A city council has defended it position over the recruitment of foster carers after the Sun newspaper carried a front page story on Thursday about the father of a toddler who has launched a legal bid to remove his daughter from the custody of a gay couple.

According to the Sun, the girl was placed with the lesbian couple without his knowledge or consent.

He is now fighting for custody of the 22-month-old toddler who is living with foster carers in Nottinghamshire.

The father, from Nottingham, told the newspaper that the girl was conceived during a brief affair he had while separated from his wife. He is now back with his wife who is said to be backing his custody bid.

The girl was, said the Sun, handed over to social services at five days old because her mother "could not cope".

Yesterday, Nottingham City Council could not comment on the case, but issued a statement from Penny Griggs, the chair of the council's social services committee.

She said: "When we look at foster carers, we look at somone who can offer a good, caring and safe home. The children's welfare and needs always come first.

"We will accept applications from anyone regardless of their sexual orientation. However family and lifestyle are given careful consideration as part of a very thorough process of assessment and approval of foster carers.

"The most important factor has to be their ability to offer secure parenting with children we place with them."

The case, however, raises important issues for the rights of fathers. For more on this, click here