Maggie Bonnici's reason for becoming a foster carer in the first place was quite simple. "My daughter Alison wanted a sister and it never happened," she explained with a warm smile.

Since then she and her husband Lawrence have taken in about 30 children, mostly long-term placements and mostly boys.

"My daughter also went into fostering and has been doing it for 12 years. She has three at the moment, plus her own four," said Maggie, who also has two adult sons.

She devoted herself to bringing up her own family and her foster children.

"I couldn't work because I never knew what was going to crop up next. It's a full-time job.

"We have had all ages, including babies, and now we have an 11-year-old and a 17-year-old."

She said a lot of patience was needed.

Some of the children placed with her had been difficult but there are many positive aspects to the role.

When asked about the good things about fostering, Maggie answered by giving an example.

"I was in the Kingsway Centre campaigning for Foster Care Fortnight and all of a sudden a young boy put his arm around me and kissed me. It was 14 years since I had last seen him but he recognised me and he couldn't thank me enough for what I had done for him."

Another of her foster children was extremely disturbed when he first arrived and ran across all the desks on his first day at school.

"He was only supposed to be here over the Christmas period but I had him for going on five years and he was different altogether. He settled down and was just loveable."

Some children keep in touch even after they leave and their own children become part of Maggie's family.

"I even arranged the wedding of one boy who had been with me for nine years."

Maggie and Lawrence, who is now retired, live in Magor and have a smallholding with horses and other farm animals nearby and all the children become involved with helping out.

"I don't regret anything, even though we've gone through some bad times with them," said 55-year-old Maggie. "I'll be on my Zimmer before I pack it in."

* For more information about fostering in Newport , contact Freephone 0800 587 8208, 01633 235425 or email fosteringandadoption@newport.gov.uk