BEAUTIFUL babies and toddlers will have the chance to shine with the return of the popular Worcester News Baby of the Year competition, which launched yesterday in Crowngate Shopping Centre.

Every year hundreds of parents enter their children into the competition, making the job especially tough for the judges to choose the overall winner.

Stephanie McDonough's three week old baby daughter Eva (pictured) was one of the first to take part in this year's portrait sessions, photographed by Ligita Ivsina from Fraser Portraits. 

It’s free to enter - just go along to see our official photographer who will be in the shopping centre until Saturday, February 24.

The pictures will then appear in a supplement in the newspaper and readers will vote for their favourites in three categories, 0-9 months, 10-18 months and 19-36 months.

Last year’s winner was Ada Unwin from Astley, near Stourport, who also won the 19-36 month age group.

Mum Lucy Unwin entered her daughter Ada on the spur of the moment - after spotting photographers taking pictures when they were passing one day.

She said: “It was very sweet to see her win the award and I like that she enjoyed it a lot.

“Ada was really proud of winning and she told a lot of people that she won the award for being the cutest baby in Worcestershire.

“We had a lot of congratulations from everybody.

“We drive past the Worcester News every week to go to the Hive and she always points out the window and says that’s where we went to get the award. It was obviously a big moment for her.”