28254-88LOTS of baby talk will be heard across Swindon this month with the launch of the Evening Advertiser's Baby Of The Year competition.

The annual contest, sponsored this year by Matalan, will see hundreds of proud parents taking along their babies to be photographed.

The snaps will then be judged by you, the readers.

Mums and dads need an entry form which will be printed in the Evening Advertiser from Monday, July 19. They can take it to the Matalan store in Greenbridge Retail Park from Monday, July 26 to Saturday, August 7, except August 1, to have their free photograph taken.

Matalan deputy store manager Jonni Suckling said he was excited about the number of babies expected in the store.

He said: "All the staff are looking forward to seeing lots of babies in the store in July and August. It's going to be great fun for all of us.

"It will also be the first ever Baby Of The Year outside the town centre."

All children aged up to 36 months living in the Swindon area can enter.

All photographs must be accompanied by the official entry form.

There are three entry categories this year: Newborn to nine months, 10 to 18 months and 19 to 36 months.

Pictures will be featured in an Advertiser supplement in October.

Readers will vote for one overall winner and two runners-up in each category.

The main prize is a life-size canvas portrait of your child and a trophy.

Last year more than 600 youngsters had their photographs taken at Swindon's House of Fraser store.

More than 11,000 people voted, by text message as well as telephone, and six-month-old Conor Wilson was the overall winner.

For details of this year's competition call 01793 501930.

Anthony Osborne