Potential foster parents are being encouraged to find out more about what it takes to give children a happy home.

Sutton Council has aimed to drive up recruitment of foster carers during Foster Carers Fortnight, which runs until May 26.

Foster Care Fortnight is a national campaign to raise the profile of fostering in the UK.

In Sutton the fostering team will be out in force providing information to interested residents at pop-up stands across the borough.

They also highlighted the story of Jeff Ford, 61, and 59-year-old Maureen Ford, who have been foster carers in Sutton for over 20 years.

Mr Ford, who is also chairman of the Sutton Foster Carer Association, said: "We have three children of our own and our daughter always wanted a sister.

"She now has several. We had a spare bedroom and wanted to offer a young person an opportunity to grow and develop in a stable and happy family environment."

Councillor Dave Callaghan, chairman of Sutton Council's children, family and education committee, said: "Foster parents like Jeff and Maureen play a huge role in the lives of those in their care.

"We have some wonderful families in the borough who’ve committed so much of their time and emotional support to young people in need - but we still need more people to come forward.

"Behind this fortnight is a serious message.

"We have children in the borough who need a loving family home and we want to ensure each and every one of them gets just that."

Potential foster carers will need to complete a fostering assessment which takes around six months to complete following the submission of an application.

To find out more about fostering in Sutton visit suttonfostering.org.uk, call or text 07515 137752, or email sutton.fostering@sutton.gov.uk.