DARENT Valley Hospital is on a mission to find a little budding star.

If you are a proud parent with a cute baby aged from newborn to two years old, then you could be in with a chance of winning the Little Budding Stars competition.

The hospital hopes to raise awareness of the Little Buds Fund, which provides essential equipment for its special baby care unit.

News Shopper has been helping staff raise cash towards a £400,000 wish list of equipment they need to enhance services.

So far they have raised more than £130,000 through coffee mornings, sponsored walks, runs and bike rides.

To enter the free competition, simply 'Like' Darent Valley Hospital on Facebook and upload a recent photograph of your child with their name and age in the description box.

Share your picture with as many friends and family as you can and the photograph with the most 'likes' will win.

First prize is a professional baby photo shoot with the winning picture appearing in News Shopper, while two runners up will get Marks and Spencer vouchers.

A hospital spokesman said: "We see more than 5,000 bouncing babies born at Darent Valley every year.

"But, every parent loves to share their best baby pictures with their family and friends. Our ‘Little Budding Stars’ competition is the ideal way of sharing your cute baby photos (no matter where they were born) and winning prizes. Everyone likes a baby photo, but which is liked the most?"

Entry closes on August 31.

To donate to the Little Buds Fund, visit justgiving.com/budding-little-stars or call fundraising manager Tracey Cummins on 01322 428256.