LANCASHIRE County Council is asking people to think about growing their family through adoption.

A special event will be held at County Hall, on Fishergate, Preston, on Tuesday, September 5, from 6pm to 7.30pm, to help people find out about adoption.

There's no need to book - you can just turn up, but early arrival is recommended so the presentation can start promptly at 6pm. People attending the information evening are also asked to stay for the whole session.

The council is focussing on two different types of adoption, so that more babies and young children can go to live with their permanent family quicker:

- Best for Baby (concurrent placements) places babies and young children, aged up to two, with foster carers who may go on to give them a permanent home

- Better Beginnings (the fostering-for-adoption scheme) is for children where there is no realistic prospect of a return to their birth family.

County councillor Susie Charles, cabinet member for children, young people and schools, said: "We're looking for people from all backgrounds to offer a permanent home and family to children who are not able to live with their birth family.

"What matters to us are your personal qualities and that you are able to provide a loving home, where you can support and look after a child throughout their childhood and beyond.

"More children in Lancashire are benefiting from being placed with their adoptive families earlier thanks to these programmes.

"Sometimes babies come into our care at birth or soon after, and they're looked after by foster carers, while we work with their parents to see if they can go home.

"If this isn't possible, the court process can take many months, and after that the baby usually has to move again, to their adoptive parents."

Cllr Charles added: "Best for Baby placements mean that there's some degree of uncertainty for the adopters, because there is always a small chance the child might go home.

"If the adults can take on this uncertainty, the baby will have the chance of a more secure start in life. If they are adopted, they'll have been with their adoptive family for much longer."

Seven children adopted in Lancashire last year (April 2015 to March 2016) were successfully placed under the Best for Baby scheme, and six through the Better Beginnings scheme.

To adopt, you must be over 21 and live in Lancashire or close by, whatever your race, gender, sexuality, living arrangements, age or job status.

You can find out more about the information evening and the adoption process at www.lancashire.gov.uk/adoption or call the adoption team for an informal chat on 0300-1236723.

Free parking for the event is available on the Arthur Street car park, next to County Hall.