IT’S A DOUBLE celebration for little Daisy Whitaker.

Days after unwrapping presents for her first birthday, the Newsome smiler has been crowned the Examiner’s Baby of the Year 2010.

Daisy – who lives with parents Richard Whitaker and Kirsty Jacobs – was voted this year’s winner with more than 1,000 votes.

A record 648 babies and toddlers were entered into the contest – a whopping 240 more than last year.

And with online polling introduced for the first time, a record number of almost 40,000 votes were cast, raising more than £1,500 for local charities.

Mum Kirsty, 27, of Ridge Close, said: “I just cannot believe it – we’re over the moon.

“It was astonishing because the main reason I put her in for the competition was to get some nice photos of her done for Christmas presents.

“There were so many gorgeous babies in the competition, I never thought she would get this far.

“I feel so blessed to have such a beautiful child.”

Daisy wins £150 in high street vouchers, a 20 x 16 inch portrait worth £275 donated by John Woods Photography and a 2D cast impression of her hands in a wooden frame worth £60 by Linthwaite company Precious Memories.

She will also be presented with the historic engraved Examiner Baby of the Year Trophy to keep for a year.

Crosland Moor toddler Inayah Mirza, two, won second place.

The two-year-old won a £100 high street voucher, a 15 x 12 inch portrait worth £225 and a hand cast.

While Laylan Mills-Kollar, of Netherton, won third prize.

The 21-month-old wins a £50 high street voucher, a portrait photograph and a hand cast.

Mum Linda Mills, 26, said: “It was just a but of fun really. I was ecstatic when he made it into the final 20, nevermind when he won third place.

“We are so overjoyed.”

A donation of 5p from every phonecall or text was donated to the Huddersfield Common Good Trust – the Examiner’s chosen charity this year.

Organiser Natasha Maskery, the Examiner’s senior marketing executive, said: “We were really pleased with the response this year, which shows how popular this historic competition still is with parents.

“The online voting used for the first time also helped to include those with families across the country or overseas.

“All the babies entered were gorgeous, but sadly not everyone can be a winner.

“But being featured in the local paper means they will also be an Examiner baby.”