YOUNG Thomas Bannister reckons he will be able to help Bolton Wanderers' top-flight football hopes -- in 10 years or so.

The six-year-old football fan from Over Hulton already knows a bit about winning. He has just been made the Bolton Evening News's Child of the Year 2001.

Currently, the lad from Over Hulton supports Sunderland as his dad, Cliff, is from the North-east. But the likeable youngster, whom mum Katie describes as "one of the lads", wants to play for the Wanderers when he grows up.

In the meantime Thomas -- a pupil at St Andrew's School, Over Hulton -- will be busy taking his holiday prize of a seven nights' family holiday in sunny Menorca.

There is also a cash prize of £250 and, as a memento of his special day, a wall-enlarged, framed and finished portrait from well-known local photographers Manor, Kay & Foley, of Winter Hey Lane, Horwich.

Almost 5,000 votes were cast by readers of the BEN for the 36 finalists in the three age groups.

These were whittled down from 667 picture entries from children all over the Bolton area, taken by Manor, Kay & Foley.

The two runners-up, winners in their own age groups, were Anthony Locke, aged eight, from Tonge Moor, and 18-month-old Chloe Ashton, from Blackrod.

Anthony is a pupil at Moorgate Primary School and another football fan who plans to play for Wanderers when he is older -- as a defender.

Tiny, blue-eyed Chloe is a special favourite with big sister Emma, aged 10, and 15-year-old brother Chris, and with all at Lilliput Nursery locally.

She loves the Teletubbies and Tweenies on TV and, according to mum Sue and dad Mike, is "a real character". The two runners-up each received a beautiful photographic portrait, £100 each from the BEN and a super seven-night family holiday at one of British Holidays' five Holiday Parks.

The main holiday prize was donated by the North-west's leading independent travel group, St Andrews Travel, in conjunction with Virgin Sun. And managing director Andrew Dickson was at the presentation to congratulate the winners and their families.

Paul Hilton, head of advertising and commercial sales at the BEN, hosted the presentation and explained how popular the competition had been -- which made the winners even more special.