PROTESTORS are staging a second protest outside Blackburn with Darwen Council offices this morning over claims nationally social workers are trying to push through adoptions.

It is the second protest this week led by Kerry Duval, 25, and Adam Chelton, 26, who are part of a national campaign Families Against Forced Adoption.

They have been joined by other parents who claim social workers are 'snatching' their children.

The pair are using a megaphone to shout up at the offices in Duke Street and at workers going to and from the building.

During the first protest on Monday, Mr Chelton said children were being adopted to meet national targets.

He said: "There are people out there who contact social services for help when they are vulnerable but the social workers come and snatch their kids and do not give them back."

Linda Clegg, Director of Children's Services at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “There is absolutely no such thing as national targets for adoption in this way, and social workers do not undertake ‘forced adoptions’ in this sense.

"In any adoption case, clear proceedings are followed which have to follow stringent legal procedures on all sides.

"We recognise that this is an incredibly emotive issue but there is no basis of truth in these allegations.”