AN appeal has gone out for people to adopt children who have been waiting longest for new families.

Blackburn with Darwen Council and Adoption Now are asking borough residents to consider providing homes for 'hard to place' youngsters as part of a national campaign.

Children aged five or over, children with additional and/or complex needs, sibling groups, and those from an ethnic minority background often wait the longest to be adopted.

While there has been a significant increase in the number of people coming forward to adopt, many are looking to adopt a single, very young child.

The 'You Can Adopt: A Life Less Ordinary’ campaign aims to encourage the public to think a little differently.

Cllr Julie Gunn, Blackburn with Darwen Council's children's service boss, said: "Many older children, those with additional needs or those from an ethnic minority background are facing year-longer delays to find their permanent homes.

"We are asking for the right adopters for these specific groups of children to get in touch. There are a range of adoption support services available. There is also an Adoption Support Fund, set up by the Government, to pay for therapeutic services for adoptive children and their parents, as well as specific support for children with disabilities, including therapies and funding for specialised equipment."

Karen Barrick, from Adoption Now said: "Children from these groups can often wait longer because people don’t feel confident that they have the skills they need to parent them. But what we do know is that these children have many of the same everyday needs and qualities as any other child and for the other special things, we are here to support you all the way."