After fostering 150 children in 28 years, Christine Blackmore is finally getting the break she deserves as the winner of the national Mum of the Year competition. She talks to FIONA GRIFFITHS...

MANY children think their mums deserve a medal for everything they do, but Amy Blackmore believes her mum, Christine, is truly one in a million.

It was Christine's selfless devotion to 150 foster children in 28 years - including Amy who was adopted by Christine at the age of seven - which won her the title of Mum of the Year in a nationwide competition.

For once Christine will get the chance to get away from the children and put her feet up for a well-earned rest at the luxurious Bath Spa Hotel in Somerset.

But although she's looking forward to her prize - which also includes £1,000 of Debenhams vouchers, a makeover and a year's worth of meals at pubs owned by contest organiser Brewers Fayre - in typical fashion Christine says things wouldn't be right if she wasn't constantly surrounded by children.

Christine, 55, who is currently fostering a nine-month-old baby and a three-year-old, said: "I often have my nine grandchildren to stay so I've always got my hands pretty full, but it's not right if the house is quiet. I just love having children around me."

Christine, who lives in Stockbridge with her husband Ray, 61, and Amy, 21, started fostering when her sons Barry and Paul - now in their 30s - were toddlers.

She had always wanted to work with children but didn't get the right grades at school to go into childcare, so she took a secretarial job in an office.

Christine said: "I left work to have my family and became a registered childminder for Hampshire Social Services. Then one of the managers asked if I would consider fostering and I didn't hesitate to say yes."

"I always wanted to work with children - when I was at school I wanted to work either for Barnardo's or the National Children's Home."

Christine has fostered children of all ages for anything from a day up to two years.

She and Ray welcome children into their home for all sorts of reasons, be it to give their mothers a break, if their parents are ill, or if they are awaiting adoption.

Amy, who nominated Christine for her award, was eight-months-old when she entered the Blackmore family as a foster child.

She said: "I'm so glad mum won the prize because she would never consider spending that money on herself. She's just amazing - I think all mums are special but she's pretty exceptional."

Christine and Ray also decided to adopt Lisa, now 27, when she was 11, having fostered her from the age of two-and-a-half.

Christine said: "We had had the girls for so long that we wanted to adopt them. Although they knew they weren't going anywhere and we loved them, it gave them security and just made it complete that they took on our name.

"All our foster children have just slotted in, and for Barry and Paul it was just part of normal life to have other children around them all the time. They just accepted them as part of the family."

She added: "We've always taken the foster children on family holidays. They are part of the family so you treat them as part of the family."

Today Christine is still in contact with many of the children she has looked after, and she has no intention of giving up fostering.

She said: "It can be challenging because some children have problems and some don't, but it's very rewarding. There are so many children out there waiting for a home and somebody to give them a little bit of love and a bit of security.

"I'll carry on fostering as long as I can."

Anyone interested in becoming a foster carer should ring Hampshire County Council on 0845 601 1895. Calls are free.