Here are the 20 most popular cute pet pictures of the year – as voted for by you.

Thousands of votes were cast during our recent Cute Pets photo contest for 2014, with the aim being to find the most adorable animal in south-east London and north Kent.

The photos of furry and feathered friends here are the ones you decided you liked the best this time around.

Being a cute pet champion involves your owner having a willing network of supporters to back you, but more importantly it’s about having a sweet face with just a hint of mischief in your eyes, as all these lovely photos show.

Starting the countdown ...

Number 20

Jonathan Pollock from Hayes sent in this picture of adorable little Charlie

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Number 19

The first of two appearance in the top 20 for recent Pet of the Day Mini, submitted by Phoebe Watson from Abbey Wood

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Number 18

The photo of grinning Beemer here was sent in by Steve Kingston from Biggin Hill.

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Number 17

Next up it's Teddy Bear who belongs to Samantha Jane from Orpington.

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Number 16

This delightful dog was submitted by Margaret Keen from Beckenham

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Number 15

Dawn Hixon from Orpington entered shih tzu Smudge into the competition.

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Number 14

This is Dolly Pop who's a shih tzu and chihuahua cross. She belongs to Emily Coates from Swanscombe,

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Number 13

This gorgeous cat is Tracy Walter's and lives in Orpington.

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Number 12

Another lovely kitty - this one is Savannah whose owner is Michaela Delahoy from Crayford.

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Number 11

Basil and his best friend Isabella, sent in by Lucy Scala from Bromley.

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Number 10

Starting the top 10 with this entry from Sharon Newell of Welling.

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Number 9

Having a chill out here is Sparky, submitted by Nicholas Obrien from Gravesend.

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Number 8

Beautiful choccy sprocker spaniel Buddy has two photos in the top 10, starting with this one. Submitted by Sherralea O'Brien from Gravesend.

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Number 7

This entry was from Kerim Ozerek of Bellingham.

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Number 6

It's Phoebe Watson's Mini again.

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Number 5

This gorgeous girl is Moilly, from Lorraine Kelly in Beckenham.

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Number 4

Linzi Eve from Bromley sent in this photo of rescue cat Jazmine who finished as the highest ranked moggy in the contest.

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Number 3

Billie Lerpiniere-Jones from Bromley titled this picture Puppy Love.

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Number 2

It's chocolate sprocker spaniel Buddy again who did so well but had to settle for being the runner-up. He can still wear his party hat with pride, though.

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Number 1

And the winner is ... Eddie the parrot.

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In a turn-up for the books, a dog didn't win this year's competition. The victor was a bird, an African grey to be precise.

Eddie is nine months old and belongs to Michelle Maloney from Gravesend.

He is uncaged for the best part of the day and is free to fly about.

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Michelle said: "He talks pretty well for a baby, in fact he doesn't stop talking until his bedtime, when he likes to be wrapped in a blanket for a cuddle and a bedtime story at about 8pm!

"He knows how to do most animal sounds (his favourite at the moment is a wolf) and he greets people with 'hello' and 'goodbye', asks everybody who enters 'have you got a kiss', says 'goodnight' at bedtime and spends most of the day counting to four and telling us he's a good boy!

"Eddie is treated as a family member and not as a pet and lives with myself, my husband and our four daughters. He's spoilt rotten and is much loved even though he does chew the furniture."

Michelle wins £300 of Pets At Home vouchers following Eddie's success.

Thanks to everyone who entered photos into our Cute Pets competition - all the animals were of course wonderful.