GORGEOUS grinning baby Thomas Smithers is top of the tots.

He has seen off the challenge of a record 1,092 little angels to be crowned the overall winner of the Daily Echo's Baby of the Year competition, sponsored again by The Marlands Shopping Centre in Southampton.

It was a difficult decision for the panel of judges, but the seven-month-old Southampton youngster was the choice as the fledgling face of 2000.

Thomas and his parents, Michael and Beverly Smithers, of Shrubland Close, will receive the Daily Echo Baby of the Year competition crystal bowl, £375 worth of vouchers for The Entertainer toy shop in The Marlands Shopping Centre, a certificate and a framed photograph.

Beverly, 39, put him in for the competition because their childminder's baby had come third place in last year's contest. She was told the news while at work in the accounts office at freight firm Frans Maas in Eastleigh.

"I couldn't believe it, it's a very exciting day," Beverly said. "I dreamt last night that he didn't come anywhere and we were really disappointed, so it was lovely to hear he had won."

Husband Michael, 47, works in the sales office at steel company McArthur Group in Nursling.

Thomas was born on New Year's Day but he wasn't planned to be a millennium baby. He arrived two weeks early and now shares a birthday with his grandfather, Beverly's dad.

Second place in the 0-9 months' category went to Lilly King, of Old Lyndhurst Road, Cadnam, while Oliver Welch, of Hawkshurst Close, Weston, Southampton, was third.

Ebony-Louise Dyer, of Staplehurst Close, Weston, Southampton, took first prize in the 10-18 months' age group followed by Callum Dore, of North East Road, Sholing, Southampton, in second and Oliver Oakley, of Woodlands Drove, Ashurst, in third.

Charlotte Horner, of Hinkler Road, Thornhill, Southampton, came first in the 19-36 months' section with Jordan Nicholas, of Ewell Way, Totton, taking second and Rayana Chick, of Freshfield Square, Freemantle, Southampton, coming third.

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