A British adoption group is campaigning to give couples who live together the same child adoptions rights as married couples.

A number of MPs are putting their support behind the British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering campaign despite the Government's refusal to change the current adoption laws.

Ther fear the a change which would also give gay couples the same rights, would cause a public backlash.

The law states at the moment that only one parent of a co-habiting couple can legally adopt a child.

This is despite the fact social workers have to be convinced that both partners are in a stable, long-term union beofre handing over a child.

But experts believe the current situation deters unmarried couples from coming forward to adopt and counters current trends, where 40 per cent of children are born out of wedlock and nearly three million couples co-habit.

MPs will voice their support for change on November 5, when the Adoption and Children Bill receives its second warning.

The BAAF has polled 2,000 adults about the issue, with 36 strongly in favour and 68 per cent in favour of unmarried couples in a stable relationship adopting jointly.

Felicity Collier, BAAF's chief executive said: "This outdated law denies many vulnerable children the security of having two legal parents.

"Whether we are talking about unmarried heterosexual couples or gay couples, what shouls predominate in any decision is the welfare of the individual child."

Parts of this article appear courtesy of The Independent