HUNDREDS of mums were given gifts at a Newport church yesterday as a ‘thank you’ on Mothering Sunday.

The King’s Church on Lower Dock Street also arranged to send special Mother’s Day gifts to girls in refuges or hostels, possibly fleeing from domestic violence, and mums were also identified by local agencies to receive a Jesus Cares package.

Hayley Corley, assistant to Pastors Ray and Laila Bevan at King’s Church, said ahead of yesterday’s church service: “We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of local businesses, who have so kindly donated gifts and vouchers so that we can bless our precious mums.”

Gifts were donated by Starbucks on Commercial Street, Subway, Cineworld and Gemelli’s at Spytty Retail Park, Burlesque Hair Company which has shops in Caerleon and Usk, as well as Flowerstalk.com and Tropical Lettering, Torquay.

“As well as the mums in our own congregation, we have invited the mums from local agencies who we support via our Jesus Cares provision, as we know, that if we don’t honour and love these mums this weekend, then sadly many mums may not even receive a thank you,” said Ms Corley.

“The whole morning is geared towards honouring all mums – stay at home mums, single mums, working mums, mums-to-be, those mums who have not been able to have their own children, but who mentor other young women.”

Each mum was given a gift bag on the way into church, filled with gifts, as well as a cupcake on the way out.

They were all entered into a prize draw and Pastor Faye Edwards gave an encouraging word to each and every mum.