Hundreds of balloons have been released by East Sussex County Council to mark each child in the south east waiting for adoption.

The council is one of five local authorities teaming up to pool their potential adopters so youngsters have more chance of finding a home.

The consortium of ESCC, Brighton and Hove Council and Medway and Bexley Councils will aim to match adopters with a child in their local area first.

Councillor David Tutt, Lead ESCC cabinet member for social services said he hoped that by working with a larger pool of adopters, the councils would be able to place children in their area quicker.

Councillor Jean Spray, Brighton and Hove's executive councillor for social care and health added: "Each child is waiting for adoption has their own unique requirements so this approach will increase the chances of finding adoptive parents for them."