New figures from the Fostering Network show that 8,600 more foster families are needed in the UK this year.

In particular, fostering services are looking for more foster families for teenagers, children with disabilities and sibling groups.

To improve the amount of carers coming forward Foster Care Fortnight - the UK’s biggest foster care awareness and recruitment campaign - is taking place between Monday, May 12 and Sunday, May 25.

Local authority and independent fostering services from across the UK will be taking part in the campaign, which is co-ordinated by the Fostering Network.

Wiltshire Council has more than 430 children in its care, with 77 per cent of those being looked after by fosterers.

The council is aiming to have 50 more fostering families by the end of 2014.

More families are particularly needed to provide homes for teenagers, children with disabilities and sibling groups in the region.

Robert Tapsfield, chief executive of the Fostering Network, has said that without enough foster families some children will find themselves living a long way from family, school and friends, being split up from brothers and sisters, or being placed with a foster carer who does not have the ideal skills and experience to meet their needs.