Lisa Dransfield of BBC East Midlands Today is helping to launch National Adoption Week in the East Midlands to focus attention on the 200 children in the area who need adoptive parents.

Six local adoption agencies are making an all out effort to reach people who may be thinking of adopting or have not even considered it and need some information to get them interested.

Lisa will be letting off 1000 'Think Adoption!' balloons at 12 noon on Sunday 7 October at Wheatcrofts Garden Centre, Edwalton, in Nottingham (junction of A52 ring road and A606).

Plenty more balloons will be there for children to take away. Also, since the aim of Week is to plant seeds of thought in peoples' minds, 1500 packets of seeds will also be given away. There will be information on display, and adoptive parents and adoption social workers to answer questions

Adopters from all backgrounds and cultures are needed to meet the needs of a wide range of children. Susan is a single woman who has adopted one girl of eleven, and is in the process of adopting another.

Bob and Jan, who have taken on three children, say, 'we wanted a ready made family really -it has been hard work but the best thing we've ever done in our lives."

Marie, a woman of dual heritage, agrees. "My eight year old is a drama queen -I can imagine her on the stage one day -but I have never laughed so much!"

During National Adoption Week, adoption agencies throughout the UK will be promoting adoption. Granada TV programme 'This Morning' and other media will be raising awareness of adoption issues.

In Nottinghamshire, Family Care, Catholic Children's Society, NCH Action for Children, Nottingham City Council, Nottingham County Council, and the Children's Society have planned the launch together.

For a Nottinghamshire information pack dial 0115 977 2288