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The model, charity champ and fitness instructor, who became a mum two-and-a-half years ago, won the title at Tesco magazine's Mum of the Year Awards at the Waldorf Hilton hotel, London.

The accolade was in recognition of her dedication to raising funds for charities, including Cancer Research UK, Help the Aged, and the Lymphoma Foundation – generally through running.

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Nell, 35, ambassador for Cancer Research UK, gave birth to Devon at St James's Hospital, Leeds, in August 2006.

She said: "I am so thrilled to have won this award from Tesco magazine. It is an honour to have won alongside such amazing mums."

Nell is patron of Support Our Soldiers and is also known as the Forces Sweetheart through her work with SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association).

She raised more than £50,000 for charity running the London Marathon in 2004 and is competing in the 26-mile challenge again this year in aid
of Cancer Research UK and Help our Heroes.

When Nell and family appeared on TV's All Star Family Fortunes last year they raised £1,000 for Jane's Appeal, the charity launched by Jane Tomlinson.

She also ran in the inaugural Run for All in Leeds in June 2007, organised by cancer heroine Jane and held just months before her death.

The Mum of the Year awards, now in their fourth year, were hosted by former GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips and celebrated the achievements of eight special women.

They were joined by such stars as The Saturdays, Lemar, and Jimmy Osmond.

The Overall Winner award went to Iris Billing, 42, from Cornwall, who founded the charity Tanya's Courage in memory of her teenage daughter who died of cancer.