A NEW campaign has been launched to recruit black and ehtnic minority adopters in Blackburn with Darwen.

A report published by the government shows that the North--West has more children awaiting adoptive families as there are adopters.

It also reveals there are more children than approved adopters with a BAME background.

Children with a BAME background and part of a sibling group wait to be placed, on average, 23 months – two months more than children with a white background.

Children with an Asian Pakistani background wait on average 47 months.

North-West based agency, Adoption Now is seeking to recruit BAME adopters from Blackburn with Darwen.

The boroughs children's services boss Councillor Julie Gunn said: "Children who come to adoption do so because their birth families are unable to care for them. Many have experienced difficult starts in life.

"They need support and love to help them overcome their troubled backgrounds and grow up to be safe and secure."

Karen Barrick, from Adoption Now, said: "We have a number of BAME children awaiting adoption.

"In addition to children waiting for adoption coming from a variety of cultures and ethnic backgrounds; there are also sibling groups; some children which have additional emotional or health needs; and those who are a bit older."

Adoption Now is looking for adopters for around 90 children.