A SELFLESS lollipop lady who has adopted and fostered children for two decades has been plucked from thousands of national award hopefuls.

Joyce Lloyd was one of six women shortlisted for a tabloid newspaper’s Wondermum competition.

The Stretford resident was nominated by her adoptive daughter Lianne, who has cerebral palsy and whom she has looked after for 20 years.

Though she narrowly missed out on the top title, Joyce was invited to a London awards ceremony by the newspaper, where she got to mingle with the stars and received lots of gifts.

She said: "It was a bit of a surprise to hear I was nominated.

"I’ve never won anything before and I’ll never forget it.

"We had a wonderful time in London and got to meet lots of celebrities like Helen Worth, who plays Gail Platt in Corrie, and the Duchess of York."

Unable to have their own children, Mrs Lloyd and husband Peter started fostering and adopting in 1987.

They also have an adopted son Gavin, who at 27 is the same age as Lianne, and are still in touch with another foster daughter. In addition to working as a lollipop lady for Moss Park School, Mrs Lloyd volunteers for Withington Community Hospital and is joined on her weekly stints by Lianne. Mrs Lloyd, of Bradfield Road, said: "Lianne is such a lovely girl."

Stating that she would encourage more people to adopt and foster, she added: "It is is something that is so nice to do – I felt like I had to do it." Mrs Lloyd’s council boss, Diane Wright, said all her workmates were "so proud" of her achievements.

She added: "She is a real credit to the council and to the borough as a whole."