A MUM has been gifted Valentine's cards as a thank you from the children she organises after school activities for.

Gillian Kelly, 42, was presented with the kind gesture for running Families of Auchinairn Coming Together (FACT) group, making her the winner of Braehead Shopping Centre's Valentine Contest.

The group provides after-school activities for primary school children five days a week, and has grown from six to 160 children attending in its nine years.

Gillian, from Bishopbriggs, also won a pack of goodies from Hotel Chocolat and Lush stores along with a bouquet from Braehead.

Glasgow Times:

She said: “One of the arts and crafts activities the children were doing at the end of last week was making their own Valentine’s card.

“And to my complete surprise when they were finished, they each handed me the Valentine card they had made. One wee boy even said ‘Gillian, you are my Valentine’ when he gave me his card.

“I was so chuffed when this happened and it’s lovely to know that the kids appreciate everything we do for them.

“But I didn’t think for a minute I’d win the Braehead Valentine Contest which is a bonus.”

Braehead kicked off the contest by asking people to post the nicest or more romantic gestures they could think of on Facebook, and Gillian came out on top.

Braehead centre director Peter Beagley said: “The spirit of love and romance is certainly alive among the shoppers coming to Braehead this Valentine's Day

“It’s a lovely time of year when you see people walking around the centre carrying Valentine cards and gifts along with the bright red heart-shaped balloons from the many stores we have here meeting the romantic demands of our shoppers.”