MORE than twice as many children are waiting to be adopted as there are families willing to adopt, campaigners have warned.

Figures from the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board (ASGLB) show there are 4,140 youngsters across England where a decision has been made by authorities that they should be adopted.

The North West has nearly three times as many children awaiting adoptive families as there are adopters.

The figures reveal the region currently has 630 children waiting to be adopted and 240 families approved to adopt.

In Blackburn with Darwen, Adoption Now is looking for adopters for around 90 in their care.

Cllr Maureen Bateson, executive member for children’s services, said: "Children who come to adoption do so because their birth families are unable to care for them.

"Many of them have experienced difficult starts in life and all of these children need a loving, stable home.

"They need support and love to help them overcome their troubled backgrounds, make sense of who they are and grow up to be safe and secure.

"We know being an adoptive parent can be challenging but it also brings great rewards.

"We need to find adopters for children of all ages from babies and young children to teenagers."

During National Adoption Week the Adoption Now team will be in Blackburn on October 18 at Blackburn Medical Centre, Barbara Castle Way, from 11am-2pm to answer any questions residents have about the adoption process and the children in local authority care.

The team will also be available to answer any questions during a live Facebook Messenger chat on Wednesday, October 16 from 6pm to 8pm.

Karen Barrick, Head of Service at Adoption Now, added: "Adoption transforms the lives of those it touches and this National Adoption Week we’re asking anyone who has ever thought about adoption to find out more.

"Whether you’re married, single, gay or heterosexual, don’t rule yourself out, if you think you might be able to give a vulnerable child a loving home, please get in touch."

In March, Janette Clarke, head of permanence in the children’s services department, said there had been a spike in children being taken into care, with 30 since the turn of the year.

She told councillors lack of stable employment, poor housing and deprivation all contributed to the issue.

In Blackburn with Darwen, latest figures show there are 403 children in the council’s care, with numbers rising every year since 2014.