MUMS, dads and grandparents flocked to a Worcester photography studio yesterday to be first in line for this year’s Worcester News Baby of the Year competition.

People crowded into Wink Photography in Lychgate Mall, Cathedral Plaza, Worcester, for the first day of pictures, which will be taken every day until Saturday between 10am and 4pm.

The queues started early yesterday and the first picture was taken before the official 10am start.

Jade Harris, aged 17, of Oakridge Close, Warndon, Worcester, was at the studio with her son Jayden Smith, who turns one on Sunday.

She said: “This is the first year we’ve entered the competition.

"I have so many pictures around my house from when he was just a day old, so it’s second nature for him to sit in front of a camera.”

Haylie Gretton, aged 20, of Cranham Drive, Warndon, watched on proudly as Demi-Mae Munden, aged 15 months, posed for the camera.

Miss Gretton said: “She’s all smiles, she loves having her picture taken.

“This is the first year I’ve entered with her, but I entered the competition with my little boy when he was born. He’s three now.”

As previously reported in your Worcester News, the photographs are being taken for free and parents are invited back a week later to view and choose their favourite picture, which will be entered into the competition free of charge.

Worcester News promotions manager Sarah Bevan said: “We are delighted that we have joined forces with Wink Photography for our annual Baby of the Year competition.

“It was great to see so many of our readers come along to get their baby photographed.

“Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to have your baby photographed absolutely free and enter our competition.”

Wink Photography will be providing prize packages worth more than £2,000.

The overall winner will receive a prize package worth more than £1,000 and the remaining two category winners each get a package worth about £500.

The competition will be judged in three age categories – 0 to 9 months; 10 to 18 months and 19 to 36 months.

A full colour supplement will appear in your Worcester News at the end of this month and readers will then be able to vote for their favourites.

Their votes will decide the top 10 in each category and then this year’s panel of judges will decide the eventual winners.

To enter

• Pop along to WINK Photography in the Lychgate Mall to have your child photographed for free.
• If you return later to choose your picture (a date will be given when the photograph is taken) it will be published in our colour supplement in April.
• Voting will result in a top 10 from the 0-9 months group, the 10-18 months group and the 19-36 months group. The winners will then be decided by a panel of judges.
• A number of great prizes are up for grabs, including a silver salver for the overall winner.
• Your picture will only appear in the paper if you return to choose the photograph you want entered.