THE winner of this year's Hereford Times Baby of the Year competition is already following in his father's footsteps.

Two-year-old Fabio Rushdi secured more votes than dozens of other hopefuls to clinch the 2015 prize.

But the accolade is nothing new in the Rushdi household as his dad, Bilal, won the same competition back in 1987.

"I was shocked when I found out Fabio had won," said Mr Rushdi, a 29-year-old oil and gas consultant who lives with his wife, Orawan, and Fabio in Westfaling Street, Whitecross, Hereford.

"My mum said that people she had spoken to had said they were voting for this child with a hat on, which turned out to be Fabio."

The prize is a welcome early birthday present for Mr Rushdi who turns 30 next week.

More than 1,000 votes were cast in the competition. The winning prize is a Hereford Times silver salver, a bouquet of flowers for Mrs Rushdi, plus a colour canvas and a CD.

Meanwhile, Tyler Scott, from Moreton-on-Lugg won the 0-9 months category, winning a framed colour canvas and a CD of the picture entered of him in the competition.

The 10-18 months category winner was Annabelle Thomas from Credenhill.

This year's competition was launched in April when those wishing to enter were invited to visit the Asda store in South Wye, Hereford to have their photo taken by photographers Fraser Portraits.

The entrants were then whittled down by a panel of judges, including Hereford Times editor Clive Joyce, to the top ten babies in each category; 0-9 months, 10-18 months, and 19-36 months.

Harriet White, from Risbury, carried off last year’s title.