Cambridgeshire County Council is attempting to encourage more families to foster children as part of National Adoption Week.

The number of looked-after children in Cambridgeshire has continued to rise to over 400, but the current number of foster carers in the county is unable to meet this high demand.

This week, the Fostering Service at the council wants to encourage more adopted children and their families to join support groups across Cambridgeshire.

The service is also particularly looking for foster carers who could offer placements to teenage girls and sibling groups on a permanent basis to be either permanently fostered or adopted.

Cllr Martin Curtis, council cabinet member for children said: ‘We need foster families for Cambridgeshire’s children who cannot live with their birth families.’

‘Every child is special and needs to grow up in a loving, secure family. But many have had a very difficult or chaotic start in life, and now need stability.’