LOVING foster families are urgently needed to help ease Essex's backlog of children in care.

Essex County Council has launched a recruitment campaign after revealing it needs 80 new foster families a year to maintain placement levels.

There are currently 1,336 children in care in Essex with around 650 foster households in the county looking after nearly 900 children.

Foster carers can be male, female, single, married or a same sex couple of any ethnicity, religion, disability or financial status.

Applicants must be over 21, with a spare bedroom, and willing to make a commitment to a child.

In return the county council offers carer’s fees, expenses and other benefits that vary depending on the type of placement.

Day-to-day support is provided through a 24 hour helpline and each foster carer has an allocated social worker.

For more information call call 0800 801 530 or visit essex.gov.uk/fostering.