KIM and Martyn Barratt have doubled their chances of winning The Sentinel's Baby of the Year competition this year.

Last year, they entered daughter Luella, now 23 months old.

And they went along to the Roebuck Shopping Centre,Newcastle, on Saturday to enter Luella again – as well as her new seven-month-old brother Caleb.

Kim said Caleb's arrival has not been the only major change to affect the Wolstanton family during the last year.

The 24-year-old recently started volunteering in the University Hospital of North Staffordshire's maternity unit, while 47-year-old husband Martyn has quit his job as a long-distance lorry driver to study for a degree in zoology at Wolverhampton University.

Kim said: "I go into the unit to help new mothers with breastfeeding and offer any support they need. I wanted to get back to work, but by doing part-time voluntary work at the hospital I don't need to worry about being able to afford nursery fees.

"It also enables me to spend plenty of time at home with Luella and Caleb, which I think is important."

Kim said the couple were keen to enter both children in the competition this year.

"We entered Luella last year and it was really good, so we wanted to put both of them in this year," she said. "We had to come back a second time though, because Luella got restless in the queue the first time and wouldn't sit for the photograph when it was her turn."

Martyn said: "I found my truck-driving job stressful and I didn't like spending so much time away from home. I was doing a lot of long-distance work, and just didn't enjoy it.

"I have a lot more time to spend with Kim and the children now and I like the idea of seeing them grow up.

Free photo sessions for the Baby of the Year competition are running at the Roebuck Shopping Centre until Saturday. Entrants have a chance to win £3,000 worth of prizes and see their pictures printed in The Sentinel. To enter, see the advertisement, left.