And the winners are . . .

THIS cute trio have been crowned as Oldham’s top tots, thanks to nearly 3,000 voters who picked out their favourites in a Chronicle competition.

Gorgeous Sarah Jayne Atkin scooped a hat-trick for her family with her second win — following in the footsteps of her brother who was a top tot four years ago.

Wade Michael Asplin bagged the prize for the youngest winner, and Jack Fisher delighted his parents with his win in the three to five-year age group.

The competition gives proud parents a fantastic opportunity to have a professional portrait photograph taken of their children, and see it featured in the Oldham Chronicle.

More than 400 youngsters were entered into the competition, which is split into three age groups.

Tesco Extra has joined Pontin’s Holidays and the Portrait Group as the main sponsors of the highly-popularcompetition, which had almost £3,000 worth of prizes up for grabs.

The winner of each category gets £100 in Tesco shopping vouchers, a canvas portrait print worth £250, a four-night family holiday with Pontin’s, a £50 voucher for Blue Zoo, the new children’s clothing range at Debenhams, a family ticket for Knowsley Safari Park and a £25 Pizza Hut voucher.

Wade Michael Asplin was chosen by Chronicle readers as the cutest little chap in the under 18 months section.

The babyshow beauty was spotted early on by Oldhamers who are forever stopping his parents, Melissa Lees and Graham Asplin, to admire the baby’s cheeky grin.

“We went supermarket shopping one day and 16 people stopped us to comment on him — I started counting because there were so many,” said Melissa (23).

Wade, who turned one on September 5, is too young to understand his win, but his mother laughed: “He’s a bit of a poser, he is always smiling and he loves cameras.

“Wherever I take him everyone comments on his cheeky smile and says how cute and gorgeous he is.”

The family are staying temporarily with Melissa’s mother, Christine Lees, at the Church Inn, Chapel Road, Hollinwood, while work is being done on their home in Alder Lane, Hollins.

Wade is the couple’s first baby, and he is waiting for his first job after being accepted on to the books of EuroKids modelling agency.

l Tots placed second and third in each category will receive a £50 Tesco voucher.

Runners-up in the Top Tots competition were:

Under 18 months: Callum Baker of Furness Avenue, Heywood (2nd), and Kaylie Hough of Garforth Street, Chadderton (3rd).

18 months to 36 months: Keira-Louise Arnold of Wren Street, Oldham (2nd), and Safiya Cheyne of Burnley Lane, Chadderton (3rd).

Three to five years: Mia Royales of Dowry Street, Oldham (2nd), and Zarah Jabeen of Morris Street, Glodwick (3rd).


Taking a Top Tots title for the second time could be the first step on a catwalk career for cutie Sarah Jayne Atkin.

She turned two in May, and was voted loveliest lass in the 18 to 36-months section just 12 months after winning the under-18 months award.

Her brother Kyle (six) also won a Top Tots title when he was two.

Sarah’s mother, Debbie Atkin, of Mortimer Street, Oldham, gasped when she heard the news and said: “Gosh! I just can’t believe it, we didn’t expect to win a third time.”

Sarah is already a limelight natural. “She loves to sing and dance, and when the ‘X-Factor’ is on you can’t hear the TV for her,” said Debbie, who also has a 16-year-old son, Ryan.

“She must be destined for the stage — well, she thinks she is. Lots of our friends must have voted for her, but they didn’t tell me. We are very lucky, and I am very proud and pleased,” she added.


Scoring another win for the boys is Jack Fisher, crowned top of the tots in the three to five-year-old category.

Four-year-old Jack, who is in the reception class at Stoneleigh Primary School, had a big smile for the photographer when he posed for the camera.

Choking back tears of joy, his mother, Joanne Crossley (35), said: “I’m really chuffed, I can’t believe it, it’s brilliant”.

Jack, who has a 13-year-old sister, Chloe, scooped the award in his Top Tots debut, and his mother said: “He will be over the moon.”

He lives with his mother and father, Gary Fisher, in Shakespeare Road, Derker.