TONY and Wendy Whitbourn never expected to be honoured as community heroes when they embarked on their career as foster carers nearly 30 years ago.

They offered to look after young children simply because they loved them - and because they wanted to help others.

Since then they have fostered no fewer than 74 children. They have already been awarded the MBE for their selfless record of caring. Now Prime Minister Gordon Brown has cited them as the kind of unsung heroes this country needs.

How right he is. Tony and Wendy are a credit to York - and living proof that there are still folk out there who think of people other than themselves.