RAISING children can be a challenge and a labour of love but what about 200 children?

One amazing Boltonian did just that.

Judith Martin from Astley Bridge dedicated most of her life to fostering children and was so adamant that siblings should remain together she was once caring for nine children at a time.

Ms Martin died this year, aged 72, in Bolton Hospice after a short battle with motor neurone disease (MND).

Her older brother Tony, aged 74, spoke to The Bolton News about his kind but often stubborn sister.

Mr Martin said: "She started fostering and it became something she did for 37 years. She was pretty instrumental in setting up a support group for foster parents."

Before taking up fostering Ms Martin worked for the railway in the parcel department until she was made redundant.

She had a daughter of her own, Laura, when she began fostering as a single mother and loved children and animals.

Her brother said: "During the school holidays, where most parents are glad to see them over, she thought it was great to spend lots of time together. She looked forward to them coming home from school."

While she was undoubtedly a great asset to Bolton's fostering services Mr Martin said she could be very "strong minded and clashed quite a bit with the people who made the rules".

Mr Martin painted a picture of a fair but stern mother figure in his sister and said she never made a threat she could not carry out.

He remembered one child she cared for who was playing truant. Mr Martin said his sister told the boy if he was not planning on going to school he should not wear his uniform.

Later that day she found him in Bolton town centre in his uniform. Mr Martin said: "She made him take his uniform off ­— his shirt, blazer, and tie. If she made a threat she carried it out."

During her 37 years, Ms Martin went on to adopt three children: Sarah, Catherine, and William, while still continuing to foster others.

When she was diagnosed Ms Martin was caring for a 12-year-old, Adam, who she had looked after since he was two. Her diagnosis forced her to give up fostering.

Mr Martin said: "MND is a terrible disease, she was very, very claustrophobic and it's like being trapped in your body. It's awful."

Despite the awful illness Mr Martin said his family was able to spend a lot of quality time with his sister.

Ms Martin was diagnosed with MND in October 2017, she was admitted to Bolton Hospice a year later and spent her last few days surrounded by the many members of her family who travelled from far and wide to be with her. One travelled from the Middle East to say goodbye to the woman she had called "mum".

Her niece Sara Stott said: "It was a privilege to hear her tell the hospice staff how she felt like she had attended her own wake, and had never felt so loved."

Ms Martin died on Wednesday, October 10.

Her funeral was held The Holy Infant & St Anthony Church in Astley Bridge with Father Billy Molloy and her long-time friend Father McAuley carrying out the service jointly.

Around 150 people attended her funeral.

In Ms Martin's final months and after her death her friends and family have been funding raising for Bolton Hospice, to which she was very grateful. They have to date raised more than £2,000 for the hospice.