HAS your child got what it takes to dazzle and shine like a star in front of the camera? Here's the perfect opportunity to see if they have - the Daily Echo Cute Kids competition starts on Monday, April 2.

Since 1998, the Daily Echo has searched each year for the area's cutest children with that winning smile! Our competition last year attracted over 1,000 entrants.

This year the Daily Echo is delighted to welcome once again Broadstone-based Fraser Portraits as the official Cute Kids photographers.

With over 30 years of experience in taking children's portraits, Fraser Portraits can't fail to produce a smile for the competition!

Their Broadstone studio specialises in family portraits and, for the very young, they run a Baby and Toddler Portrait Club.

Here's how to enter this year's competition:

  • Each child entering will need an entry coupon - these will be published every day in the Daily Echo from next Monday, March 26, until Saturday, April 7.
  • Just take the completed entry form along to one of the special Cute Kids photo shoots taking place from Monday, April 2, to Saturday, April 7, in the Dolphin Shopping Centre, Poole, and Sainsbury's Castlepoint, Bournemouth, from 9am to 5pm.
  • Entry is free - all you need is the entry form from the paper (no photocopies allowed and one coupon per child).
  • Once pictures have been taken, the photographers will give you an appointment to view them. You can then make your selection for entry into the Cute Kids competition. A package of photographs (or single pictures) will also be available for you to purchase at this time if you wish.

The Cute Kids supplements will begin appearing in the paper on Tuesday, May 1, with the 0- 9 months entrants, and will subsequently appear throughout the week, finishing on Saturday, May 5, with the 6- to 12-year-old age group.

Voting for your favourite Cute Kid will be by post, text or phone line. Full details will be printed within each supplement.

All five category winners will receive a studio session and a Wow book from Fraser Portraits worth £250.

Each Wow book is printed like a coffee table book with 12 pages containing up to 25 images, with pictures on front and back covers.

These books tell stories about families and children and become a treasured family possession. The overall winner from the five category finalists will receive a 20-page WOW book.