FOSTER parents were rewarded for their dedication to children at an award ceremony in Burnley yesterday.

Parents from across East Lancashire were presented with certificates at Fernbank in Coal Clough Lane.

As part of Foster Fortnight, Lancashire County Council's East Lancashire family placement team is holding a number of events to recognise the work done by foster carers and publicise the need for 100 extra carers across Lancashire.

Doris Haigh, of Colne Road, Earby, has fostered children for more than 20 years. Doris responded to an advertisement in a local paper and has since looked after 20 children.

She said: "I had young children of my own at the time and thought it would be nice to offer others a home and extend the family.

"Fostering is very nice and rewarding. There is always a lot of heartache, a lot of fun times and a feeling that for the time you have a child in your home you have, perhaps, given them a better home."

County councillor Chris Cheetham said: "Speaking to foster carers and our relevant support services, I know that people get a lot of satisfaction and pleasure from caring for the children they look after, whether it's for three weeks or three years.

"It is not necessarily an easy job but a rewarding one. Anyone can apply to be a foster carer as long as they have the commitment and what it takes to care for children separated from their own families."

Foster carers were presented with certificates for attending a series of formal training

courses for fostering. According to Fostering Network, the national charity for fostering,

despite 32,000 foster families in England, there is an estimated shortage of almost 8,000 foster carers across the UK.

This shortage means that children are too often being moved from home to home, are split up from their brothers and sisters, and have to live a long way from their family and friends.

Coun Cheetham added: "There is an estimated shortage of 900 foster carers across the

north-west. We want to raise awareness of the situation across Lancashire and help support those who may be considering fostering."