BONNY babies smiled for the cameras as the Oxford Mail’s Baby Of The Year competition kicked off at the weekend.

Youngsters posed for shots at Matalan in the John Allen Centre in Cowley on Saturday.

Among them was 15-week-old Evie-Pixie Thwaites, from Mortimer Road, Rose Hill. Mum Sam Curran said: “She’s a bubbly, contented baby.

“While pregnant I had high blood pressure so I had to go to the JR’s Silver Star Unit. Then I developed diabetes. It took its toll.

“But she’s lovely – a right poser!”

The 40-year-old mum-of-three added the bond between Northern House pupil Ellie, who has autism, and her sister was extra special.

Photographers from Fraser Portraits will be at the shop from 10am to 4pm until Thursday, and then at the Westgate Shopping Centre in Oxford from Friday until Thursday, April 5, excluding Sunday.

The lucky winner’s family will get a £1,000 family holiday courtesy of The Flight Centre.

All the pictures will be published in a supplement in the Oxford Mail on Tuesday, May 8.

Readers will then be asked to vote for their favourite.