THIS smiling face which brought long-awaited baby-boy joy to a family after his mother’s devastating loss has been crowned the Times Tots 2018 champion.

Little Liam Salina beat hundreds of entrants to take home the coveted trophy and £1,000 prize, but his proud parents, Breigh O’Donnell and William Salina are the real winners.

After suffering a heartbreaking pregnancy loss, the couple thought their dream of having a baby boy was over until a special message encourage Breigh to hold out hope.

The 44-year-old told the Evening Times: “I lost a baby and went to see a psychic who told me ‘your boy is waiting to come back to you whenever you’re ready.

“I had Alyssa, 12, and then we thought maybe Teagan, who is nine, would be the boy but she wasn’t and we gave up a bit but now he’s here.

“All his dates with scans etc lined up with important dates for my dad who passed away, like his birthday and anniversary, which is mental for me because I believe in all that.”

After welcoming Liam in November 2016, the family’s lives have been flipped upside down by the “typical boy” who loves to keep mum and dad on their toes, but they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Now, with the help of a little cash boost from his competition win, the family plan to spoil the tot on his upcoming second birthday and are hoping to lend a helping hand to Santa with plans for an extra special Christmas.

Breigh added: “The prize money will be spent on him. He’s obsessed with cars and keys so he was getting a toy car anyway - now he’ll get an even better one.”

Since the competition began, Liam has forced his way into the hearts of readers across Glasgow, but the family still can’t believe he has won, especially since Breigh didn’t plan to enter him in the first place.

She said: “I’m still kind of half shocked. I can’t believe it.

“It was my friend who wanted to put him in and she picked the picture. It wasn’t until after he was in I realised his face was dirty in it.

“I never expected him to go far, never mind win, but it shows you the power of social media because I just kept sharing it and it must’ve been my friends that voted.”

Breigh added: “It just proves anyone can win it. I honestly didn’t think we stood a chance, but here we are.

“I have a small family but good friends who voted to keep him in. We’re from the Gorbals and there were a few other kids in the competition from there but, when they were knocked out, they backed him.

“It’s quite a close knit community, there’s a lot of good people but I didn’t expect this.

“Since I found out he won my phone has been buzzing non-stop with people saying well done. It’s mental.”

Liam will also receive a £250 voucher for The Forge Shopping Centre, a certificate and a framed photograph.

In second place was four-month-old Barry McEleney while six-month-old Payton Jarvis followed in third place.

Both will receive a voucher for the shopping centre, a framed photograph and a certificate to celebrate their success in the competition.