Her beautiful, golden locks sealed the deal for Rebecca Wellbelove, who has been crowned Baby of the Year.

Rebecca, two, has taken the title after receiving the highest number of reader votes.

She beat off competition from hundreds of other babies, and takes the title from last year's winner Imogen Mae Allen.

Her delighted mother Lisa Carroll, 42, and father Will Wellbelove, 32, of Middlesex Street, Barnsley, were over the moon.

Lisa said: "It's such a lovely surprise. We've had seven deaths in our family this year, so it really is some welcome news and has brought us some happiness.

"Rebecca is such a pleasant little girl. She's very bubbly and quite cheeky.

"She sometimes can be quite boisterous and you would think she should have been a boy, but she also loves her dolls and anything to do with Hello Kitty."

Rebecca is the baby of the family and has five older brothers and sisters who dote on her and 'spoil her rotten'.

Lisa said her nickname for Rebecca is Annie, because of her flowing golden locks, and is now considering enrolling Rebecca with a child modelling agency.

"She has the most beautiful, ringlet, curly hair and I think she would do well in modelling."

The family will now enjoy a holiday to a Pontins resort of their choice and other prizes including clothes vouchers, pantomime tickets and an A3 framed poster print.

Narrowly missing out was Ryan Lee Connolly of New Street, Ardsley.

Seventeen-month-old Ryan received the second highest number of votes, and mum Debbie said he had done 'fantastically'.

"I was shocked when he made it into the final 30, so to come second is brilliant", she added.

Ryan will also receive a clothes voucher, A4 framed canvas poster and a free Champagne Occasions ad for his next birthday, along with Millie-Maii Brettoner, of Darley Avenue, Athersley South, who was the second runner up.