BABIES, toddlers and youngsters from in and around Basingstoke will be lining up to have their pictures taken over the next couple of weeks – and one of them will be crowned the Cute Kids 2016 winner.

The Gazette is again running its popular Cute Kids competition this year, in partnership with Festival Place, and as ever there will be three age categories to enter – 0 to nine months, 10 to 18 months and 19 to 36 months.

Photographs will be taken free of charge by Fraser Portraits in Queen Anne’s Square, Festival Place, from today to February 28 between 9am and 5.30pm (Sunday 11am-5pm).

Entry to the competition is by original voucher only.

Parents or adult relatives or carers who accompany youngsters to a photo session must take a voucher along to have one child’s sitting done for free. You can later view the photos to choose which one is used in the competition.

Prizes this year include canvas prints and crystal awards from Frazer Portraits and Festival Place vouchers.

Photos will appear in a special supplement to be published in your Gazette in mid-March.

Readers will then have the chance to vote for their favourites by phone, text or post.

The readers’ votes will determine the shortlist of finalists, and the winners and runners-up in each category will then be chosen by a panel of judges.

There will also be an overall winner – so all of this year’s contestants will be bidding to follow in the footsteps of 2015 overall champ Harry Lomer-Cross, from Laverstoke, pictured.

The very best of luck.