THE Evening Advertiser's Baby of the Year 2001 is . . . the Evening Advertiser Baby of the Year 2000.

Lauren Henly, who was two in October, has retained her Crown, beating more than 600 entries to be voted the bonniest baby in the Swindon area for two years running.

Lauren lives with her proud mum and dad, Dina, 24 and Neil, 29, in Gorse Hill.

Her victory was announced by Evening Advertiser promotions manager Sheryl Crouch at our office in Victoria Road.

Dina, a full-time mum, said: "We asked last year if she could enter the competition again."

Neil, a security guard, added: "We didn't realise she was going to get this far the second time around."

Both parents said Lauren was a lively, happy girl, who loves playing with her toys, singing and seeing her family.

The awards ceremony was attended by the final three babies chosen by our readers in each age category birth to nine months, 10-18 months and 19-36 months.

Their parents came away with studio photos of their children taken by Leicester-based BCR photographs, the official photographers.

Lauren received the winner's glass trophy, and trophies were also given to her fellow category winners, Ewan Davies (10-18 months) and Banita Mudwar (birth to nine months.)

Ewan, 18 months, who lives in Wroughton with parents Lorraine, 45, and Jerry, 42, was keeping up a family tradition in the competition. Three years ago his sister, Alaina, now four, was a category winner.

Banita's parents, Jacqui, 28, and Raishan, 36, live in Rodbourne.

Jacqui said: "My husband wanted her to be in the competition she just loves having her picture taken!"

The runners-up were Charleigh Andrews and Megan Clapham (birth to nine months), Yasmin Cooper and Keira Ryan (10-18 months) and Regan Jefferies and Casey Aupko-Grayson (19-36 months).