There were smiles all round as the winners of the Gazette's Baby of the Year 2008 competition were announced.

More than 200 bundles of joy were entered into the competition and Gazette readers voted for their favourite tots.

The winners – and their proud mums – collected their trophies and framed photos from the Essex Chronicle Media Group offices in Chelmsford.

The overall winner was Finley Bedford, aged five-and-a-half months, who was very intrigued with his shiny new trophy. He went one better than his elder brother Tyler, now three, who was runner-up in the competition two years ago.

Beaming mum Lisa, 20, from Masefield Court in Brentwood, said: "I was so shocked when I found out he won, I didn't know what to say. I'm really proud of him.

"It's a nice thing to do for the children. Finley is a really happy, cheeky baby, he just gets on with things and hardly ever cries."

She said it was lovely that people had taken the effort to vote for him. Finley and his family also won a trip to Legoland as part of their prize.

Winner of the youngest age group was eight-month-old James Heard from Hook End. Mum Marie Darby said that she nominated her little angel only after his grandmother posted a copy of the Gazette through her door with a note attached, telling her to enter him.

The winner of the 10-18 month age group was Lexi-Mai Teeder, aged 17 months, from Pilgrims Hatch, while two-year-old Mitchell Fryatt from Brentwood came top in the 18-36 month category.