THE hunt is on for adorable animals with the X-factor for this year’s Worcester News Pet Idol competition.

The contest has the usual categories for dogs, cats and small furry animals but there is an added twist this year.

To add even more fun there is a new category for pets that look like their owner.

An overall winner will be chosen from the winners of each of the main categories.

People with pets who live in the news area of your Worcester News can enter from today. We have more than £3,000 of prizes to be split between the winners at the end of the contest, which is now in its fourth year.

A supplement featuring all the pets will be published in November and the winner announced just before Christmas.

Last year’s competition attracted just under 400 entries and 6,000 votes.

As in previous years, a shortlist of 10 finalists will be drawn up, chosen be you, our readers, before a final decision is taken by a panel of judges including the director of sponsors Just For Pets (formerly Wilsons Pet Centres), the editor of your Worcester News Kevin Ward and competition organiser Sarah Bevan.

The overall winner and best dog last year was Rio, a shi tzu crossed with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owned by Cara Bothma and her boyfriend James Houston.

The best cat was long-haired, ginger Willis, owned by student Lily Slater of Laugherne Road, St John’s, Worcester.

The best furry animal was Dusty the rabbit, owned by 10-year-old Ashley Evans.

His mum Sue Evans, aged 46, of Toulouse Drive, Norton, Worcester, said: “We won £500 of pet vouchers. We got Dusty two new hutches and toys. We totally spoiled him. He’s a lovely bunny. We gave some vouchers to my sister’s puppy.”

Anyone sending in an image of their pet should make sure they are clear and close-up.

The closing date for the competition is Friday, November 7.

To enter, use the form in today's Worcester News or e-mail your name, address, postcode, daytime phone number, pet category, the name of your pet and a sentence of 20 words (maximum) about your pet - along with a photograph to petidol@worcesternews.co.uk

There are special boxes for entry forms at Just For Pets stores in Worcester, Malvern, Evesham, Droitwich, Kidderminster and Bromsgrove.