THE mother of the East Lothian Courier’s Bonnie Babies 2021 winner cried in her car after hearing that her eight-month-old daughter had won the competition – and plans to treat her little one to a new pram with the prize money.

Nicole Rybak, 27, and her partner Kevin Blackhurst, 26, were over the moon when their daughter Charlotte took the crown as East Lothian’s bonniest baby.

In second place was Ailsa-Leigh (£200 runner-up prize) and not far behind in third was Cooper (£50 consolation prize).

The couple, who live on Carlaverock Court in Tranent, have been together for three years and welcomed their first child Charlotte on April 26, giving their beloved poodle Macie a baby sister.

Nicole, a beauty therapist who works from a mini salon at home, said: “I was absolutely delighted when I heard.

“I was actually in the car on the way home from buying the newspaper first thing in the morning and I totally missed the announcement.

“But somebody had messaged me saying congratulations on Charlotte winning.

“I did actually have a cry; we are absolutely delighted.”

She was made aware of the competition by family members: “I’ve been born and bred in East Lothian and lots of the older part of my family buy the Courier regularly and had told me about it. My gran was the one that said we need to enter her so we were fully committed to the competition from the start.

“My friends and family have been amazing with the voting, handing me over coupons each week and they’ve really done us proud.

“It just goes to show how good they did because she won it! We’ve been running to the shop every Thursday to keep up with the competition.”

Her partner Kevin, a plumber and heating engineer originally from Newtongrange, also had his entire family visit East Lothian each week to collect a copy of the Courier.

Speaking on why Charlotte was the standout winner of the competition, former St Mary’s Primary School and Knox Academy pupil Nicole replied: “I am biased but she is definitely the cutest baby I have ever seen in my life with the biggest blue eyes.

“She actually has a full head of hair, believe it or not, but the picture I sent in her hair was covered.

“Everywhere I go it’s ‘I can’t believe how much hair your baby has’, she looks so much older than she is.”

Charlotte’s parents plan to use the £750 prize money to treat their little girl to a new pram.

Nicole added: “I’ve been moaning about the one I’ve got so I will take her to Mamas & Papas and let her try the new wheels out.”