THE Hopkins family from Bromsgrove will be tucking into a big birthday celebration after all - thanks to the Advertiser/Messenger.

Long-time foster mum Margaret Hopkins, of Marlbrook Lane, was looking forward to having her extended family around her for her birthday.

The problem is there's 35 of them and they couldn't find a place to go out and eat in the area.

But after we came to the aid of the party with a story last week, the family has had plenty of offers.

"We'd like to thank the Advertiser/Messenger for helping us. My mum's really pleased," said daughter Tina. "We thought we had nowhere to go but in the end we were spoilt for choice."

Margaret, and husband Albert, have been fostering for 30 years. They have four children of their own plus four adopted, other foster children and some grandchildren to add to the numbers. They like to go out each year on Mother's Day and their mother's birthday but this time, for the first time in 15 years, they couldn't find anywhere to take such big numbers.

"We don't all have the chance to get together very often so it's great to have it all sorted out," Tina said.

The gathering will be at the New Inns in Bournheath on Sunday, October 20, and Tina will also be taking her mum for a meal at the Plough and Harrow in Stourbridge Road on her birthday, October 17.