THE county’s bonniest babies will show off their smiles at the launch of the Oxford Mail Baby of the Year competition 2010.

Parents and guardians can take their babies to Debenhams in Oxford city centre from Tuesday, where Fraser Photography will be setting up shop from 10am to 4pm daily until next Saturday.

Every tot which has its picture taken will feature in the Oxford Mail and readers will then be asked to pick their favourite.

Oxford Mail newspaper sales manager Margaret Marsh said she was looking for as many babies as possible being put forward.

She said: “We think it is going to be a lovely contest.

“It is the first time we have run the competition since 2007 and also the first time we have held it in Debenhams. We want to see as many bonny babies as possible smiling for the camera.”

Mason May, of Great Close Road, Yarnton, was 11 months old when he was crowned Oxford Mail Baby of the Year 2007.

More than 800 tots and toddlers took part, with more than 5,000 votes being cast.

The main part of his prize was a family holiday to Disneyland Paris with mum Stacey Froude and dad Marlon May.

Speaking at the time, Miss Froude said: “We wanted him to get into child modelling so we thought we’d give this a go and see how he got on.

“I was absolutely elated when we found out he’d won. We were really surprised.

“It means a lot to us and we’re keeping all the cuttings out of the paper in his baby box, so we can embarrass him when he’s older!”

A total of 303 people voted for Mason, who also won the category of nought to nine months, his age when the photographs were taken in September 2007.

This year’s contest is open to children aged up to three and there will be three different age categories.

A winner will be chosen in each category: nought to nine months, 10 to 18 months and 19 to 36 months, based on the number of votes, which can be cast by text or by phone.

An entry form, left, will also be available in the paper on Tuesday, which parents or guardians must take along to the childrenswear section of the Magdalen Street store.

Winners will receive a framed photo and Debenhams vouchers.