'Best mum' looks forward to finals (From Penarth Times)

'Best mum' looks forward to finals

A PENARTH mum has been celebrating after she won the title of Pontin's 'Mum in a Million', while on holiday with her family.

Val Smith, 46, of Redlands Road, went on holiday with her husband Rob and son Matthew, to the Pontin's Brean Sands Centre in Somerset during August.

This new competition is being sponsored by Malibu Sun Care products, and is being held at Pontin's centres this year.

She was named the Brean Sands heat winner, after she successfully completed a series of games and a personality quiz, as well as copying some dance moves.

Val won a Malibu gift bag, a winner's medallion and certificate. She will return to Somerset for a weekend in November to take part in the finals.

Retired school teacher Val has been to the Somerset resort once before just for a weekend.

She said: "It's the nearest Pontin's centre, and there are loads of activities for children, as well as adult entertainment during the evenings".

Val added: "I'm looking forward to going back for the finals".

Son Matthew, 8, a pupil at Fairfield Primary School, was also a winner, while on holiday at Pontin's. He won the creative costume competition, which involved dressing up around the theme 'under the sea'.

His costume had to be hand made, as no professional fancy dress was allowed. Matthew dressed up as a star fish. To achieve the effect, Val used a pizza box to make him some fins, and cut up cloths to dangle around him, to give the appearance of legs. As a final touch, she stuck stars all over him to give the illusion that he really was a star fish!

His costume was a hit, and he won a medal and certificate. All of the heat winners, from the Pontin's centres will attend the final, where they will compete against each other for the coveted gold medals.