SHOPPERS at Blackburn's Mothercare World watched as a gorgeous line-up of Lancashire Evening Telegraph Baby of the Year Competition winners received their prizes.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph Editor Peter Butterfield presented money vouchers to the section winners and a trophy to the overall winner at the store.

Mr Butterfield said: "We were absolutely overwhelmed by the number of entries.

"Almost 1,000 youngsters entered. It was a very difficult job to pick the winners."

The family of the baby section and overall winner of the competition, John Riding, 11 months, of Beech Grove, Darwen, postponed a trip to Cornwall to pick up the £500 prize money.

His mother Jackie, 35, whose son Kevin, now 17, also won a major baby competition when he was in nappies, said: "I was absolutely over the moon when John won as well."

Winner of the toddler section Lee Hennessy, two-and-a-half, who received £250, has just landed a two-year modelling contract with Manchester Agency Kids and Company.

His parents Michael O'Brien and Cheree Hennessy, of Monmouth Street, Burnley, said: "We were overjoyed he won and it shows he has potential for modelling."

Second and third places received £100 and £25 respectively.

In the baby section they went to Joe Oldfield, of Woodlands Grove, Darwen who came second, and Ellie Ainsworth, of Walton Crescent, Blackburn, who was third.

Toddler section second prize went to Annie Olivia Smith, of Newton Street, Ightenhill, Burnley, with Luke Kenyon, of Baron Street, Darwen, third.

The presentation was attended by Lancashire Evening Telegraph Managing Director Brenda Rudge, Marketing Manager Roger Edworthy, Advertising Manager Christine Lambe and Ian Rigby, manager of competition sponsors Mothercare World, Blackburn.

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