Foster carers and staff from Essex Social Services have launched this year's foster carer recruitment campaign - 'You could foster a child'.

Around 50 foster carers and staff from across the county took part in the launch at County Hall in Chelmsford, aimed at dispelling myths about the types of people that can become foster carers.

Many people who would make excellent foster carers sometimes don't come forward because they think they will be turned down.

Fostering is not just for couples with children of their own.

Single people, those without children and people whose children have grown up and left home are also needed. Carers can be working full time or not working at all.

There is no upper age limit to becoming a foster carer as long as you are in good health.

Dawn Powell, a foster carer from Waltham Abbey, said: "As a single woman I wasn't sure that I would be allowed to become a foster carer, but when I phoned in for information I was told that being single would not be a barrier.

"People seem to think foster carers are extra special people, but we aren't, we're just like anybody else. The only qualities you need are love, patience and understanding."

Essex foster carers, including Dawn, were heavily involved in shaping this year's campaign and were keen that the public find out about the different types of people that could foster and the different types of fostering they could do.

Councillor Mrs Iris Pummell, cabinet member for children's services and schools, said: "Our foster carers are great ambassadors for the service and will be very good at recruiting new carers through their enthusiasm for the excellent work that they do."

The launch of the campaign follows the expansion of the county council's fee paid schemes to increase the number of Essex foster carers by 200 over the next eight years, while keeping existing carers.