24 February 2013 Last updated at 07:01 ET

Gloucestershire seeks more BME foster carers and adopters

People from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities in Gloucestershire are being urged to consider fostering and adopting.

There are currently 52 children in care in the county from those communities, equating to 10% of those in care.

The county has just 18 black and minority ethnic foster carers.

The county council said foster carers were needed for older children, teenagers and siblings and adopters are needed for children of all ages.

Councillor Paul McLain, cabinet member for children and young people, said: "We want to offer local BME children the chance to be cared for and brought up within their own cultural background and ethnic origin."

"It is always our ambition to find a family to reflect the child's ethnicity. It's what children and young people in care have told us they want."

He said: "Most importantly, children need to be placed with adopters who can understand and be sensitive to their cultural, religious, physical and emotional needs."

The county council is holding drop in sessions during February and March as part of the recruitment drive for people to find out more.