Urgent appeal for carers in Cumbria

Foster carers Rob and Christine Mason, Penrith Credit: Foster Adopt Cumbria

Parts of Cumbria are in urgent need for more foster carers to give a home to some of the county's most vulnerable children.

A New Year campaign has been launched to find an extra 30 families in the Carlisle and Eden areas.

There are currently around 50 carers already offering homes to children in who can't live with their birth families.

The council says that without more people coming forward, some of the areas most vulnerable children could end up living far away from family, or be split up from siblings.

Lawyers, Rob and Christine Mason, from Penrith, both work full time and have been fostering a brother and sister (aged 9 and 13) since they were approved to foster 18 months ago.

Christine says she can't imagine life without their children:

Cllr Anne Burns, Cabinet Member for Children's Services says that becoming a foster carer can be a wonderful experience:

For more information visit cumbria.gov.uk/fostering, or call 0303 333 1216.