A FOSTER carer of 20 years is hoping to encourage other people to open up their homes to the joys of fostering children.

Barbara Hewer and her husband Reg, from Darwen, have fostered around 30 children since the early 1990s.

They are taking part in a new 'Back to Basics' campaign to promote Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council’s fostering service, with the help of local bakery Tunstills.

The community scheme will start in the Earcroft area, to reflect how many foster carers in previous decades used to live side-by-side.

Barbara has been going out to speak to neighbours and opening her door so people can find out just how rewarding fostering can be.

The 58-year-old said: “So many kids need a normal family who can take good care of them.

“Some of these children come from homes where they've been beaten or neglected.

“If you can give them a proper family life then you give them the best chance in life to succeed.”

Barbara and Reg, 61, adopted their daughter Jayne 40 years ago.

They moved to Darwen from Germany in 1988, after Reg's 22 years with The Army in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers came to an end.

Knowing they could not have children, they decided they wanted to foster and contacted the council.

Barbara said: “You get so much out of it.

“It's giving care more than anything, and letting them know someone is there.

“I'm not saying you don't get days when you think 'why am I doing this?', children are children and you're only human, but at night-time when they are asleep you think 'bless their little hearts'.

Tunstills Bakery in Blackburn Road is also putting stickers on bags and sandwiches and handing out leaflets to customers to promote fostering this week.

Barbara and members of the council's fostering team will be based outside the bakery on Friday for an open coffee morning from 10am until 2pm.

They will also be promoting a fostering advice evening on Wednesday, September 29, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at the Fostering Partnership, The Limes, Blackburn Road.