WHEN Lana-May Maddocks was photographed for The Sentinel's Baby And Toddler Of The Year competition she was only two days old, making her the youngest baby in this year's competition.

Parents Alan Maddocks and Lisa Godwin only intended to enter their two-year-old daughter Elisha Harvey into the contest but photographers soon convinced them otherwise.

Mr Maddocks, aged 30, said: "We were only going to enter her sister, and Lana-May was just with us at the time. The girl behind the desk said she was beautiful and that we should enter them both.

"They took pictures of her mum holding her, apparently she's really photogenic and the pictures came out really nice."

The birth of 6lb 10oz Lana-May proved to be an easy one last Tuesday, following a complication-free pregnancy.

Publican Alan said: "We were in and out in two hours, everything went fine."

Since then Lana-May has been settling in and Mr Maddock hopes she will do well in the competition.

He said: "I think Lana-May being so young could help her, when people see a young baby it pulls on their heartstrings.

"She's got dark green eyes and a full head of fair-brown hair but the poor little girl's got her father's nose."

Like any newborn, she spends most of her time eating and sleeping.

Mr Maddocks, of Albemarle Road, Cross Heath, said: "She eats like a horse and sleeps like a baby – she's fairly hungry, like her dad she likes eating."

When awake, Lana-May is happy to be surrounded by her teddies and will stop crying if you play her some pop music.

Her dad added: "If she's ever having a bit of a whinge, as they do, just put some pop music on or any music on telly and she'll stop to see what it is."

This is the first time in the competition as well for the older sister after their parents found out about the contest through Miss Godwin's sister who saw it in The Sentinel.

Miss Godwin, aged 20, said: "To me she's an absolutely gorgeous baby, she doesn't need to win to be baby of the year for me.

"She's so special because we were trying for a baby for so long, she's one of a kind."

Parents can still take their little ones along to the Roebuck Centre in Newcastle today and tomorrow to have their pictures taken by our Baby And Toddler Of The Year photographers.

However as tomorrow is the final date for photographs to be taken, all entries must be registered for 3pm to avoid disappointment.

No photographs will be reviewed on Sunday – the first day parents can review the photographs and chose which ones to enter into the competition will be on Monday.