BRAVELY fighting the side-effects of chemotherapy and with great difficulty speaking, a mother's tears speak volumes about the overwhelming pride she feels for her children.

Having won the fight against three brain tumours and now battling against a fourth, Helen Wrangham's children decided it was time to show her how special she is.

They entered her in a competition, run by Asda, to find Britain's top mother - and Helen was overwhelmed when she was crowned Darlington's WonderMum.

Her husband, Mark, 36, of Yarm Road, said: "She was very emotional and couldn't stop crying. She is so proud of all four children and is touched by what they have done."

Mrs Wrangham's youngest daughter, Carly, 13, penned the winning entry on behalf of her sister, Natalie, 17, and brothers, Marc, 16, and Symon, 19.

In it, she wrote: "Despite the fact she has had four brain tumours and is now going though chemotherapy, she still manages to keep her head and have fun with us.

"We tell her not to do things but she can't help it. She has always got a smile on her face, even when she is poorly or not feeling well."

In the past four years, Mrs Wrangham, 36, has undergone three operations and radiotherapy to remove tumours.

Her fourth tumour is inoperable and she is now undergoing a second course of chemotherapy to shrink it.

"It takes everything out of her and, because of where the tumour is, she has great difficulty in speaking, which frustrates her," said her husband.

Mrs Wrangham, who worked in the Iceland store, in Yarm Road, for many years, lost her brother, Gary Irwin, to the same illness in 1999.

Mrs Wrangham's children spend a lot of time at her side, talking to her and telling her their stories.

Natalie said her mother is an inspirational woman, who deserved the award for her bravery and the love she shows her family.

Mrs Wrangham will receive £50 worth of Asda vouchers and be entered into the WonderMum Awards regional final.

Six regional winners will appear on GMTV and viewers will vote for the overall winner who will be announced at an ceremony in London.