FORMER foster carers are needed by Cheshire East Council as it steps up a recruitment campaign.

There is a national shortage of foster carers and the authority says it needs to ensure it hires the right people so its fostering service grows and meets the needs of the children and young people who require homes.

When the matter of former foster carers was raised at at last Thursday's meeting of the council's corporate parenting committee, it appeared they hadn't yet been targeted.

Cllr David Jefferay said: "It's always easier to sell to people who've bought off you before, so I was wondering whether we actually keep in touch with people who have fostered before.

"With that in mind, I messaged my sister, because she used to foster for Cheshire East three to four years ago and asked her does Cheshire East chase you to ask you to foster again and she replied saying 'no, but lots of other agencies do'."

The Wilmslow East councillor was told by an officer this was something the council could do.

The meeting heard how the council had struggled for a number of years to get enough foster carers.

Annemarie Parker, head of service for cared for children, said social media has a huge role to play in terms of recruitment for fostering and adoption but she also referred to the importance of physical group meetings.

Committee chair Kathryn Flavell said: "The idea of having an open house, if you like, where people can come and just find out a bit more without making any commitment or making any application, I think that would be something we could really promote."