AN East Lancashire MP has welcomed record adoption figures which have revealed that more children in the region are getting a secure and loving start in life.

New figures have shown that more than 5,000 children have been placed in loving, stable homes in the last 12 months – an increase of 26 per cent on the previous year. This includes 85 in Lancashire.

Overall, adoptions have increased by 63 per cent in the last three years, from 3,100 in 2011 to 5,050 in 2014.

Pendle’s MP Andrew Stephenson said: “It is great news that the number of children adopted from care has risen to the highest level.”