ENTRIES are making their way to your Worcester News from animal lovers anxious to take part in this year’s top pet competition.

The annual Worcester News Pet Idol competition, which launched last week, has already received more than 80 entries, with more coming in each day.

The contest categories are dogs, cats and small furry animals but there is an extra twist this year to add some fun to the proceedings.

A new category has opened for pets that look like their owner.

Competition organiser Sarah Bevan is excited about the amount of entries sent in.

“I am really delighted that the Worcester News has so many wonderful pet lovers as readers and I hope we get lots more entries in,” she said.

An overall winner will be chosen from the winners of each of the main categories.

People with pets who live in the news area of your Worcester News are eligible to enter.

We have more than £3,000 of prizes to be split between the winners at the end of the contest, which is now in its fourth year.

A supplement featuring all the pets will be published in November and the winner will be announced just before Christmas.

Last year’s competition attracted just under 400 entries and 6,000 votes.

As in previous years, a shortlist of 10 finalists will be drawn up, which will be chosen by you, our readers, before a final decision is taken by a panel of judges including the director of sponsors Just For Pets (formerly Wilsons Pet Centres), the editor of your Worcester News Kevin Ward and Mrs Bevan.

Anyone sending in an image of their pet should make sure they are clear and close-up.

The closing date for the competition is Friday, November 7.

To enter, use the form on page 16 of today’s paper or e-mail all the details on the form to petidol@worcester news.co.uk

There are special boxes for entry forms at Just For Pets stores in Worcester, Malvern, Evesham, Droitwich, Kidderminster and Bromsgrove.