TWO Little Darlings who have melted the hearts of Bolton Evening News readers.

Two-year-old Reece Uden picked up the title in the 0 to 2 years category and Hannah Arif, aged three, won the 3 to 5 years category of our great Little Darlings competition.

The contest proved a big hit with parents in Bolton, who queued to have pictures of their children taken in the Market Place.

There were hundreds of entries and the judges had a tough task in sifting through the pictures and narrowing them down to just 48 finalists -- 24 in each age group.

The finalists' pictures appeared in the Bolton Evening News and it was down to our readers to choose the favourite Little Darling, with more than than 2,500 votes coming in by telephone and coupon.

Each of the winners won a fabulous Haven family holiday, and vouchers worth a total of £700 from Davies Sweets, Scowcroft Childrenswear, Greenwood's Menswear, DB3, Body Shop, Marks and Spencer, Boots and the Early Learning Centre. Other prizes included chocolates from Thorntons and soft toys from Birthdays. Each was also given a trophy and a framed photo by the Bolton Evening News.

Hannah's mum, Shazia Arif, of Kilnhurst Walk, Heaton, said: "I'm delighted. It's such a fantastic thing for her to win and I'm so proud. I think people voted for because she looks a bit cheeky and very cute."

Mum Becky Uden, of Victoria Road, Horwich, thought Reece picked up the award for his dazzling smile.

"I didn't expect him to win. You never do, but it was a nice thing to enter and I can't believe it," she said.

"There were so many who entered and they all deserved to win in their own way because they we so lovely. I think it was probably Reece's smile that won it for him in the end."