HE HAS always been the cutest boy in the eyes of his parents – but now two-year-old Harry Mead has been officially crowned as Basingstoke’s cutest kid.

The two-year-old, from Chesterfield Road, in Black Dam, was named as Basingstoke’s top tot in the popular Cute Kids contest, which this year was run by The Gazette in partnership with Tesco, in Chineham, JJ’s, The Malls, and Fraser Portraits.

Harry and the other winners and runners-up were selected as finalists in the Cute Kids 2014 competition after their pictures received the most votes from Gazette readers.

A panel of judges then chose the first and second-placed children in each of the three age categories – and Harry was chosen as the overall winner.

At a ceremony last Thursday, Harry’s proud parents Adam and Emma Mead, who also have a seven-year-old daughter, Katy-Mae, were presented with a canvas print of Harry’s winning picture, £100 in Argos shopping vouchers, and a winner’s trophy.

Adam, 26, told The Gazette: “Kids are always beautiful in every parent’s eyes, but when people say your kid is cute, it is always nice to hear.”

Proud mum Emma, 31, added: “I love this picture (the winning photo). I am surprised he sat like that – he doesn’t normally like cameras.”

William Smithers won the 0-9 month category, and George Burch was declared as the runner-up; Dominic Bruce triumphed in the 10-19 month category ahead of Jack Geddis; and overall winner Harry beat Maria Hill to first place in the 19-36 month category.

All the winners and runners-up attended an award presentation at Tesco, in Chineham, where the runners-up were given prints of their pictures taken by Fraser Portraits, and the winners received a print and a trophy.