MORE than 100 children are waiting to be adopted by families in East Lancashire, it was revealed today.

Now the head of a charity, which helps place youngsters with loving families, has urged more people to consider providing homes.

Brian Williams, director of Blackburn Diocesan Adoption Agency, said many myths about adoption have kept potential parents away for too long.

Only seven families in East Lancashire have adopted youngsters through the agency this year. They have provided homes for children from outside the area - local families are not allowed to adopt local children.

Mr Williams spoke out to mark Adoption Week, running all this week and in preparation for new laws that allow non-married couples to adopt from January. Single people and same sex relationships are also entitled to adopt - something Mr Williams claims not enough people know.

He said: "Children in East Lancashire and the rest of the North West wait too long to find permanent and loving homes due to the major shortage of people coming forward to be adoptive parents.

"Many people rule themselves out of adopting as they don't think they fit what adoption agencies are looking for. In fact all kinds of people make good adoptive parents. It does not matter whether you are married or single, over 40 or out of work. We urge anyone from any cultural or ethnic background with all different lifestyles, to consider making a dream come true for a waiting child."

"As part of the National Adoption Week campaign we are travelling to seven locations in Lancashire to get closer to the community and help raise awareness.

"We want to raise the profile of our agency which has been operating in the North West for over 50 years. In a double celebration of National Adoption Week we are proud to announce the launch of our new website to try and reach more people."

The agency teamed up with Booths the supermarket to set up an information tent in Chorley yesterday, and tomorrow, the team will be in Station Road, Clitheroe.

Anyone wanting more information should visit www.bdaa.org.uk or contact the agency on 01254 57759.