A "supermum" who fostered more than 400 children in Torbay has died at the age of 94.

Miss Nancy Hooper, known to her charges as Aunty Nancy, had retired in 1970 after more than 30 years in child care.

In 1938 she had formed a residential children's nursery at Whitecote in Fisher Street, Paignton, with 20 children looked after by four staff.

Before that she had trained as a nurse, qualifying in 1928, and had held several nanny posts in London.

During the Second World War she accommodated many evacuee children and on one occasion had to hurry them off the beach at Goodrington after enemy aircraft machine-gunned the area.

She moved the nursery in 1947 to Hillside at Roundham Road and expanded to include short-stay holidays.

On her 80th birthday many of her grown up youngsters threw a surprise party for her at one of Torquay's hotels. Afterwards she said: "I was absolutely overwhelmed by what seemed to be hundreds of people ... but I had an absolutely wonderful day."

A 52-year-old Paignton man, who did not wish to be named and was in for care from the age of six months until he was 15, said: "I had a really happy childhood because of her.

"She really looked after me and brought me up very well, taught me how to behave, and she sorted out my education."

Fiona Horner, who was with Nancy from the age of 10 days until she was 18 years old, said: "I could not have had a happier childhood. "Aunty Nancy was a pillar of strength and has always been there from me when I needed her."

Miss Hooper was living at the Roundham Court Retirement Hotel, Cliff Road, Paignton.

A funeral service was held at St Andrews Church, Paignton, followed by burial in the town.