A SOCIAL services department is hoping to help raise awareness of children in need at a town gala.

Blackburn with Darwen social services will be having their own stall at Darwen Gala after increasing interest in fostering following a new recruitment campaign.

The fostering team will be in the council's tent on Saturday and are looking for people of different backgrounds, ages and experience to have the best chance of finding a foster placement that suits each child.

Director of social services Stephen Sloss said: "We are hoping for a lot of interest on the day and would encourage anyone to come along and have a look."

He said people do not have to sign up there and then, he said they can take information away and have a think about it.

Social services said in the six months since the recruitment campaign started, 100 families and individuals had inquired about taking on the role of a fosterer, outstripping the previous year's total.

So far six families had successfully completed an intensive course of preparation and can now go on to foster children.

The council said foster carers performed a vital role in shaping the lives of children in care and gave them an opportunity to experience family life and they needed to hear from more people.

Coun Maureen Bateson, executive member for social services, said: "Fostering offers young people much better chances in life. That is why social services still need more people to apply.

"I would urge anyone who is wondering about fostering to call for more information."

There are about 35 children in children's homes across Blackburn and Darwen and in short-term care waiting for foster parents.

There are a rising number of 163 children in full-time foster placements and head of service John Daly said the rising number meant a good performance.