Raising a child can be a daunting prospect for any single parent, but Carol has fought for 20 years to make sure her three boys and three girls have everything they need.

The 41-year-old said: "It's been very hard. My life revolves around the kids.

"As long as they're all right, that's all that matters. It's not their fault they were born into a single parent family."

Carol works as a care assistant looking after elderly patients for two different companies. Her day begins at 7am and rarely finishes before 10pm, with a break between shifts lasting just one hour.

She receives support from her eldest child, 20, who pays regular visits, and her mother, who looks after her 19-month-old baby while she is at work.

Carol added: "I do get some tax credit from the Government. Emotionally, my older children have given me a lot of support and my only real social life is spent with them."

She has often gone without food and clothing in order to provide for her kids but remains level-headed about such extremes.

Daughter Cordella Davis, who nominated her mother for the Croydon Champions award, said: "She should receive the best mum in the world award.

"She has brought us all up by herself and still has time to be loving and caring. She's never got thanks for what she has done and now I think it's about time."

Cordella, 18, claims her mum suffers from low confidence and has never taken a holiday for a welcome break.

She hopes the Croydon Champions campaign will give Carol the recognition she deserves.

"This would be a good opportunity to show my mum just how much I appreciate her," Cordella said.

"Anyone can buy flowers but they will die eventually. This is something that will last a long, long time."