SHE may be a single mother, but Tracey Alexander is a bit of an expert when it comes to looking after children. In 11 years she has fostered more than 250 youngsters, adopted two and is the legal guardian of another.

And back in 1990 when she decided she could offer something to children in need of a bit of tender loving care, she didn't even know if she would be allowed to become a carer.

Tracey believed her single mother status could bar her, but that wasn't to be the case.

The 41-year-old says it has not all been easy and tears have been shed along the way but it has been very rewarding.

Tracey admits after her first placement did not work out, she would have given up if it had not been for the support she received. And how glad she is she did try again, as her very next youngster, Jonathan, became her son when she adopted him two years later.

Her daughter, Amanda, who is now 18, has been fully involved in all the decision making and she and Jonathan were involved when Tracey adopted Lael, now six.

Tracey, who lives in Bath, says:
"I had always wanted a big family and thought I would try fostering. When I got my first child I was really excited. I had a two bedroom council flat and thought I could do anything.

"The arrangement broke down after six weeks. It was horrendous. I really wasn't prepared for it. My daughter, compared to the two I had, was an angel. She didn't have the same problems and it took me by surprise.

"My advice to people wanting to do it, is to expect the unexpected.

"After the placement broke down I never wanted to foster again but I had a very good support worker who explained I wasn't a failure and said 'you aren't going to click with every child.'

"I had a little boy who was two who I adopted and he's now 14. I had no plans to adopt. When Jonathan came I knew he was up for adoption and when he called me Mum I used to say to him, 'No, Tracey.'
My daughter said to me one day 'mum can't we keep him?" The adoption went through in 1991 and meanwhile Tracey kept on fostering youngsters aged from six to 15 for a range of time scales, some short term and others long term.

With the adopted children, one keeps in touch with their birth mother and Tracey, who works with Bristol City Council, is happy about that. And she hopes the children will not grow up wondering who they are.
"So many I have seen say 'I don't know who I am.'
"I hope all my children will know who they are. It is not a secret that they are adopted.
"People say to me it must be hard work but it's no harder than having just one and I love it. I wish I could have more."

Tracey is black and admits to causing heads to turn when she has children black and white calling her 'mum' and she takes children of all ethnic groups.
"I take the children that are harder to place - you get used to being bitten, kicked or having your hair pulled, but I love the challenge.
"When you hear them laugh, it's wonderful and when they are not scared that you will take their plate away.
"You get contact with their mums and dads. I will never replace their mum.
"I care for them until mum or dad is ready to take over.
"You have got to accept when they leave they are going somewhere which is better for them. It is positive.
"You mustn't give up on them. They are so used to people giving up on them."