A GREAT-great-grandmother who always has a smile on her face despite losing both her legs has won a mum of the year award.

Winifred Preston, 81, won the competition which was run by The Duke of Wellington pub, Grane Road, near Haslingden.

She was nominated by daughter Gillian because of her strength against adversity.

She said: "I just get all my inspiration from her.

"She lost both her legs in six months yet always has a smile on her face."

Winifred, a mother-of-six, of Lindon House nursing home, Shadsworth, had both of her legs amputated after complications caused by diabetes.

Her left one was taken off in July 2001 and her right in February 2002.

However, her independence has been restored by an electric wheelchair and Gillian said she is certainly making the most of it.

She said: "My mum is going round the nursing home taking paint off the walls and wood off the doors!

"But it has given her independence back.

"It is awkward getting her out in a car and not comfortable for her."

Winifred was an auxiliary nurse at Queen's Park Hospital for most of her career.

Before that she worked in mills in Blackburn and in her early years even worked in Queen's Park workhouse.

She also managed to fit in cleaning jobs and working in Blackburn market's cafe to help keep food on the table for her large family.

Gillian, of Oban Drive, Shadsworth, said: "She's had a hard life and been through a lot. I just thought she deserved this."

A spokesman for Brewer's Fayre pubs, which ran the competition, said: "We felt mothers across the UK deserved to be recognised with our award.

"During April we encouraged families to nominate their mums and after sifting through the stacks of entries we felt our supermum, Winifred, fitted the bill perfectly."

Other mothers across East Lancashire who were voted number one mum by their families included:

Dorothy Clarkson from Mill Hill who was nominated by her daughter Teri-Louise Clarkson

Linda Tennant from Hoghton who was nominated by her daughter Helen.