SHE is Britain's supermum who has cared for more than 1,000 children over five decades.

Ann Collins is the country’s oldest and most prolific foster carer and has dedicated her life to providing love to the most vulnerable children.

But, in a cruel twist of fate, it is Ann who is relying on their love as she takes on the fight of her life after being diagnosed with cancer.

The bubbly 73-year-old has been told kidney cancer has spread to her lymph nodes and bones but she is determined she will not give up.

Despite undergoing gruelling chemotherapy, she is refusing to retire and is instead finding strength from the outpouring of support from the hundreds of children she has cared for during an incredible 46 years as a foster parent.

Ann received 50 bouquets of flowers in hospital and every day since, they are still being left on the doorstep of her Poole home.

Ann, who currently has three children in care, said: "I feel so lucky that I've got the biggest family in the country.

"The florists were saying they can't believe what's happening here! It has been crazy!

"I haven't told all of the children but the reaction has been very sad. From Australia to America to Dubai, I haven't stopped receiving messages and to see so many old faces has been amazing.

"I feel very proud of them and so lucky to have touched so many lives.

"I shall go on go until I drop. It's my life and I've given my heart and soul to it.

"I will keep going whatever it takes."

Ann, originally from Essex, fell in love caring for children as a youngster when she lived next door to a family with eight children.

One of five children, she left school aged 15 to become an assistant housemother in a children’s home.

Ann married for the first time aged 22 and had two children of her own Steve and Tracey as well as later adopting another son called Terry who came to her when he was just a few weeks old.

It was when Ann came to Bournemouth on holiday with her first husband, she started life as a foster carer after seeing an advert in the Daily Echo.

She bought her first home in 1970 – a 10-bedroom house in Queens Park Avenue where she looked after up to 26 children at a time however it took its strain on her marriage and the couple separated.

When Ann wed Steve in 1977, they vowed to carry on filling their house with ‘love and laughter’ – and she continued her dream.

The pair have since given a loving home to hundreds of children who are orphans, have been abused, are from broken homes or who have drug or alcohol problems.

Ann and Steve, 63, who had a seven-bedroom house in Alexandra Road in Poole before moving to Hunt Road, have always arranged day trips out as well as a yearly family holiday abroad together.

The couple, who have been honoured with awards for their service, said some children stay for a few weeks while others have never left.

Ann, who says she has lost count of how many children she has cared for, said: “Our latest award from Social Services confirms we have looked after more than 1,000 but I know it is much more than that. We think it’s going on for 2,000. We have looked after children from babies but then we'd never used to kick them out! You wouldn't kick your own children out would you?

“I must admit you do lose count and sometimes you walk along the street and people come up and say ‘do you remember me?’ and they will tell you all their memories but sometimes it can be hard to remember everyone!

“We used to have a mini-bus and if they did well at school we’d take them away to theme parks and we’d go on a two week holiday to Spain and a 50-seater coach would turn up!

"For us, it's just normal life and we want to do the things ordinary parents would do. For many, we are their parents and so you never get five minute's peace.

“But we have loved every minute of it. We have so many happy memories."

That happiness changed though when Ann was diagnosed with kidney cancer last July after discovering blood in her urine. Two months later, she underwent an operation to remove her kidney.

However, more devastating news was to come.

Doctors said the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and after suffering pains in the back of her head, which was initially diagnosed as arthritis, she was told she had bone cancer.

“It was sickening," said Ann.

"It has been the biggest shock. The first thing I said to the doctor was: ‘why me?’

Unable to operate, Ann is now undergoing intensive radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

“It knocks me stupid,” she said.

"Last month we got a Gold Community Champion Award for fostering from the council but I was sick five times before I went.

“I am a fighter though. I won’t give up with anything, no matter what it is or who it is.”

For Ann, knowing she has the love from her family is giving her the strength to fight the disease.

"It's just lovely," she said fighting back tears.

"I went to a birthday party and hundreds of the children came up and said to me 'Ann if you want my kidney, you've got it' and 'Ann, if you want my blood, you've got it.'

"The children stop me from dwelling on having cancer.

"We've heard the most horrendous cases going and I've always welcomed the naughtiest kids with open arms.

"When they come back and say without you, they don't know where they would be, that is something.

"If I die tomorrow, I've achieved everything in my life I've wanted to achieve with kids and I've got no regrets whatsoever.

"It's heartbreaking sometimes.

"You couldn't ask for better kids.

"Noone or nothing is going to stop me from what I live for, what I've been doing all my life.

"I'm going to carry on."