“SURREY is in urgent need of more people to foster”, according to the Labour leader for Surrey County Council.

According to Robert Evans, with some 900 Surrey children needing to be fostered there aren’t enough places in the county, so at present half of them have to be placed outside Surrey.

He continued: “Fostering may not be for everyone, but unless people have looked at the options and considered it, they may never know. Surrey County Council is always keen to hear from anyone who might like to foster a child.

“Applications are welcome from anyone, single, married, black and minority ethnic or anyone who identifies as being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. You just need to have some life experience and be aged between 21 and 70.”

Surrey County Council always tries to place children close to family, friends and school.

“Obviously there are better outcomes for looked-after children when they are placed with Surrey County Council foster carers. This is because they stay close to their communities,” added Mr Evans.

“At this time of year, when many families have come together for Christmas, I hope some Surrey residents will consider whether fostering might be for them in 2017.”

For more details, visit surreycc.gov.uk/social-care-and-health, call the fostering service on 0800 0969626, or write to Surrey County Council Fostering Service, Quadrant Court, 35 Guildford Road, Woking GU22 7QQ.