A FORMER Redditch carnival queen has been crowned again - this time for being a great mum.

Cathy Lewis, 49, who now lives in Hatton, scooped the title at the Daily Mail Mother of the Year awards.

The former advertising manager at the Advertiser was carnival queen in Redditch in the jubilee year of 1977 and also opened the Kingfisher Centre.

Mrs Lewis, who used to live in Greenlands Avenue, moved to Warwickshire in 1984 but still regularly visits her family in Redditch.

She became a foster parent when she was made redundant as a company director and for the last 10 years she and her husband Stephen, 53, have made their eight bedroom countryside home a haven for children in need of care and attention.

The couple are currently looking after three brothers and sisters all under five and a 14-year-old boy but since Mrs Lewis became a foster carer she has cared for about 30 children.

"We had a lovely place we could offer for children. My husband wasn't sure at first - in fact he thought I was mad," she said.

"But I went on all the relevant courses and nine months later our first foster children arrived.

"I don't think I ever expected how tiring and exhausting it would be.

"There are times when I've felt I'll go mad if I don't get a break. But it's worth it to see the changes in the children."

Mrs Lewis' dedication was rewarded at a glitzy awards dinner and ceremony held at the Millennium Hotel in London and hosted by Esther Rantzen and Gloria Hunniford.

She also won a family holiday to Mauritius courtesy of Comfort Pure, sponsors of the award.

She will also be working closely with Comfort Pure and leading Warwickshire in a new campaign to be announced shortly.

She added: "I've always loved children and am keen to help mums do the best for their child."