ALMOST 50 people have made ‘serious inquiries’ about becoming adopters since Blackburn with Darwen Council launched a recruitment campaign.

Let’s Adopt was launched in January, in a bid to encourage more people to adopt children in the borough. But council bosses said they were ‘astounded’ by the number of inquiries and wanted to thank readers of the Lancashire Telegraph for their support.

Karen Barrick, head of permanence children’s services at the council, said: “The level of interest we’ve had in the area is amazing.

“It has surpassed our expectations, so the council would like to thank everyone who has read, shared and talked about Let’s Adopt.”

Let’s Adopt supporter and former Coronation Street star Wendi Peters, from Blackburn, said: “I am overwhelmed at how many people have come forward to find out more about adoption in Blackburn with Darwen in such a short space of time.”

Coun Frank Connor, executive member for children, said there were still 39 children waiting to be adopted in the borough.

Visit www.letsadopt.co.uk