PROUD parents have received their prizes after their children were voted the bonniest babies in the region.

The Northern Echo’s ninth annual Happy Tots competition saw more than 200 children enter over three age group categories.

The children had their pictures taken at pop-up studios in the Queen Street shopping Centre, Darlington and Newgate Centre, Bishop Auckland.

The children who received the most votes in the three categories were Harrison Beckham in the up to 18 months category, Caitlan Hughf in the 19 to 35 months category and Violet Mclean in the three to five years old category.

Harrison’s mother Gemma Beckham, 22, of Bishop Auckland, said she had only entered the competition to get photos of Harrison done.

She said: “I have never entered a competition like this before, so I was shocked when he won.

“I wanted to get pictures of him taken and thought that this was a good way for them to be done.”

For Violet's mother Jodie Mclean, 27, of Firthmoor, Darlington, it was third time lucky in the competition.

She said: “I had entered the competition for the past two years and had been a finalist.

“To win in the third year was a surprise.”

Event organiser Sam Linfoot said: “It was another successful year with hundreds of cute kids having their photos taken, this competition is always well received by the public.”

Each winner has received a canvas print of the winning picture.