AN ABERGAVENNY foster mother has received national recognition for her care of children.

Joan Griffiths of Old Barn Way, Abergavenny was nominated by her adopted daughter Sarah, 22, who was fostered by Joan and her husband Brian when she was six months old.

She won the ITV News carer category, sponsored by the News of the World,and was hailed as a champion for the welfare of children. As well as a glass trophy she received a cheque for £5,000 and a framed certificate signed by prime minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie, who is president of Barnardo's charity which was one of the sponsors of the Children's Champion awards which were presented at the Grosvenor Hotel in London.

Joan, 74, was accompanied to London by her son Michael and daughter Sarah and they travelled in a car which had been specially laid on for their use. They stayed two nights and say they were treated like royalty, meeting famous personalities such as Simon Cowell and Ulrika Johnson.

Sarah said: "I saw an advertisement about the awards and took the application form off the website so my mother didn't know, and I gave it to my sister Teresa to post for me.

"Two weeks later I had a call from someone at ITV News and I handed the phone to my mum and she said they'd got the wrong person when she was told she was on the shortlist for the title."

Joan added: "I was so shocked I couldn't eat my dinner which I'd just cooked, so I gave it to the dog."

She and her husband fostered Sarah when she was a baby, despite her health problems which meant she underwent 14 major operations to correct her disabilities. She was one of the 40 to 50 children the couple have fostered over the years. Joan added: "A lot of people didn't think Sarah would be like she is today, she's done so well. But I loved her as soon as I saw her and was determined not to give up on her."

When she was 16 Sarah asked the couple to adopt her because she said that was the one piece missing from her jigsaw, and they happily agreed. They are delighted with the tremendous progress she has made.

She is articulate and intelligent and after attending Abertillery Comprehensive School where she passed her GCSE exams, she gained all her secretarial qualifications at Coleg Gwent, Ebbw Vale and now works as a volunteer for GAVO, Advocacy Wales and Monmouthshire Youth Council, where she has been a member for three years.

Sarah says the reason she nominated her mum was: "I wanted the world to know what a marvellous mum she is - she's one in a million."