Mum and dad in a million

Tredegar couple Caroline and Tyrone Jones have opened up their home - and their hearts - to 25 children since they gave up their family-run bakery business to become full-time foster carers in 2007. They have been recognised with an award

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A COUPLE who sold their family business to devote their lives to fostering children have been crowned national care champions.

Caroline and Tyrone Jones, from Tredegar, have been foster mum and dad to 25 children since they giving up their bakery in 2007.

And now the Joneses' extraordinary dedication has been recognised with the a top award at this year's Wales Care Awards.

The Peter Clarke Award for Promoting Excellence in Services for Children and Young People came during what Mr and Mrs Jones described as “one of the best weekends of our lives”, with the ceremony being followed by their daughter's wedding the next day.

As well as transforming countless young lives including that of a girl who came to them aged 10 unable to read and write, and is now a nurse - the couple have also been approved as Shared Lives carers with the South East Wales Shared Lives Scheme, which means they can care for their foster children into adulthood.

Speaking about their award win, Mrs Jones, 60, said: “We are absolutely gobsmacked, we really didn’t expect it. It was a fantastic evening and we met some wonderful people.

“It was my daughter's wedding the following day so our feet didn’t really touch the ground for a few days. It was definitely one of the best weekends of our lives.