A mother who has fostered 638 children has retired after 40 years to write a book.

Jean Forrest, 66, made the decision to give up fostering and concentrate on publishing her autobiography after her last foster children left.

Mrs Forrest, who, together with her late husband Jim, was presented with a British Empire Medal, also won a Carer of the Year award and was crowned with the Children's Champion title.

She said giving up looking after children at her home in Tristram Close, Sompting, had been a difficult and emotional decision.

She said: "When you are a foster mum, it's a full-time thing.

"I just felt if I was going to go ahead with this book, this was the time to do it but I was still upset.

"I really do miss looking after children.

"I am very glad I have been blessed with 40 years. But it's the right thing to do. I am sure now that I'm settling down a bit.

"At first, I couldn't talk to anyone about it. I had to sort out all the toys and the clothes and that really upset me.

"I have had a good life and a wonderful time with all my little people."

Mrs Forrest, who looked after as many as ten children at a time, still feels it was a rewarding job.

She said: "To see a child blossom into a happy, ordinary child, smiling a lot, laughing a lot and putting their arms around me was a great reward.

"If they let me hold them, that was even better because some of the children did not like to be touched."

In her care, however, the children experienced and learnt love and affection and many began to enjoy a cuddle from their dedicated foster mother.

Mrs Forrest said the hardest part was saying goodbye to her charges but she was still in touch with many of them, who are now adults.

She said: "I have always been very happy for any of the children to be adopted because that is what you are working towards.

"But that doesn't stop me from crying sometimes because I miss the children so much."

Her husband Jim died from a heart attack five years ago but she said he and her children, Jill, David, Wendy and Jenny, who are now grown-up with their own families to look after, and her two adopted sons, Justin and Phil, 22, have always been supportive.

She said: "My children have always been very good with the kids.

"They had to share me for a very long time and I tried to give them special time in return."

Mrs Forrest's brood were nicknamed the Tribe of Israel.

They would often enjoy outings to the beach, to Butlins, the South Downs or a forest with other mothers and their children, sometimes making up an expedition of 30 youngsters.

Mrs Forrest is now arranging for her autobiography to be published and, if all goes well, she hopes it will be in the bookshops by April.

Meanwhile, only Justin and Phil are left at home with her.

She said: "It is very quiet in my house. I am really sad.

"I have wandered around crying more than once but I have made my decision and that is it."