A TODDLER from the region has taken his first steps into a career in front of the camera following a nationwide search for the UK's next tiny tot model.

Drew-Luca Mills, aged just 16 months and from Northallerton, was chosen from more than 300 entries to showcase Charles Clinkard's footwear range for young children.

The North-East family footwear retailer invited parents and carers to send in fun snaps of their tots in their first shoes and Drew-Luca was quickly chosen as one of the winners.

So he was invited along to Clinkard's HQ in Middlesbrough, along with his parents, for a professional photoshoot that will see his face - and feet - featured on the company’s new national advertising campaign.

As well as starring in the campaign, the youngster has also won free shoes for a year.

Drew-Luca’s proud mum, Lucy Schiller, 27, said: “I've never entered Drew into anything like this before.

"Lots of people comment on his hair - people in the street will say ‘look at those curls’ so when I spotted the competition on Facebook, I thought it would be fun to enter.

“I tried to tame his hair a bit for the day though - and he had a perfectly timed nap in the car on the way over so he was full of smiles and energy.”