Here's how a picture of your pet could win you £250 to spend at Hemel's Riverside Shopping Centre

To coincide with National Love Your Pet Day on Saturday, February 20, Riverside Shopping Centre has launched their Prettiest Pet competition.

The Gazette has teamed up with the shopping centre to help find Hemel Hempstead's prettiest pet.

Riverside is asking the Hemel community to upload their favourite picture of their pet to be in with the chance of winning £250 to spend at the centre.

The shopping centre is also offering a £100 voucher for 2nd place and £50 voucher for 3rd prize to be spent at the shopping centre.

The top 10 shortlisted pet pictures will also feature in a gallery in The Hemel Gazette - both online and in the newspaper.

The top three crowned winners will also appear in the publication.

Key dates to remember:

- Upload your entry onto Riverside’s social media channels by Sunday, March 14

- Shortlisted entries announced, and public voting starts on Riverside’s Prettiest Pet Facebook album on Wednesday, March 17

- Public voting ends midnight Wednesday, March 31.

The competition is now open, and you can upload your pet picture onto a number of Riverside’s social media channels using the hashtag #riversidepets:

> Riverside Facebook> Riverside Instagram> Riverside Twitter.

Following all entries being collated, Riverside will be working alongside The Gazette to shortlist the top 10 pet pictures.

The centre will then be uploading the top 10 pictures into their Prettiest Pet Facebook album on Wednesday, March, 17 asking the public to vote for their winner by hitting the ‘like’ button.

Voting closes midnight on Wednesday, March 31. The three pet pictures with the most likes will then be crowned as Hemel’s Prettiest Pets with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place deciphered in order of the number of likes received.

Riverside Centre Manager, Ian Welland said: “In partnership with Hemel Gazette, we’re delighted to announce we’ve now launched our Prettiest Pet competition – coinciding with the national ‘Love you pet day’.

"We’re looking for pets of all shape and sizes, from mouses and cats to dogs and horses – any pet can enter!

"The shortlisted pet pictures will be featured in our local publication - Hemel Gazette, alongside the top three pets who will be crowned by the public.

“During these difficult times, I know many of us have depended on our pets to bring a smile to our face.

"From daily walks with the dogs to a simple cuddle with the cat on the sofa!

"It’s now time to see some of your fantastic pet pictures for the chance to win £250, £100 or £50 voucher to spend here at Riverside Shopping Centre.”