THE hunt is on for Worcestershire's most beautiful babies and cutest toddlers.

The popular Worcester News Baby of the Year competition is back for another year.

Each year, hundreds of people put forward their gorgeous little ones – this time could your bundle of joy be our winner?

Entering the competition is free and easy to do.

Just pop along to CrownGate shopping centre in Worcester and see our official photographer, who will be there from today (Monday, February 27) until Saturday, March 4.

The pictures will then appear in a full-colour supplement in the Worcester News and readers will be able to vote for their favourites in three categories – 0-9 months, 10-18 months and 19-36 months.

Last year's competition saw almost 7,000 votes cast for more than 200 babies, with Sophia Stanyer, from Pinvin, near Pershore, taking the overall title and the 19-36 month category.

Max Brooks, from Sherrards Green Road, in Malvern, was the winner in the 10-18 months category and Alexandra Ellevold, from St Peter's, in Worcester, won the 0-9 months category.

Sophia's mum, Bethany Moss, says the Baby of the Year experience was "fantastic".

"It was lovely because the people at her pre-school all saw her in the paper and congratulated her," she said. "I'd definitely urge other parents to take part – we never expected to win."

Sarah Bevan, promotions manager at the Worcester News, said: “We are very excited to once again be running our very popular Baby of the Year competition in conjunction with CrownGate shopping centre and Fraser Portraits.

“We’re looking forward to meeting some of our youngest readers and finding out who will be crowned our Baby of the Year."