The 17 children who are currently waiting for loving families in Gloucestershire to adopt them could have their dreams come true more quickly because of a new amendment to the adoption laws.

Gay and unmarried couples who want a family came closer to winning their fight for the right to adopt when MPs voted in favour of making an amendment to the Adoption and Children Bill last week.

According to Gloucestershire Social Services, this would greatly benefit the 17 children waiting to be placed with families.

Councillor Maureen Rutter, portfolio holder for social services, has welcomed the news.

She said: "The 17 children we have waiting to be matched with adoptive families at the moment include some sibling groups of up to three children and these are mainly children over five years.

"There are older children, aged between five and 10, who have ongoing demanding behaviour which will take a long time to settle and may continue throughout their childhood.

"These children need resilient adoptive parents who are willing to accept the child's early history and have child care experience, either as parents or by doing a job such as nursery nurse or childminder. Some of the children have special educational needs or particular health needs.

"What we are looking for are stable, loving families who can provide a permanent home for children. We recognise the nature of families is changing and unmarried couples can be as committed to each other and their children as married couples are.

"We welcome these proposals if it means more children can benefit from a secure and loving family life. Children are adopted for a variety of reasons. These include coming from parents with mental health problems, emotional difficulties or drug and alcohol abuse, all of which can impact on their ability to care for their children."

David Hinchliffe, Labour chairman of the Health Select Committee, insisted that couples would have to demonstrate the "stability and permanence" of their relationship.

But former Conservative social security secretary Peter Lilley said children were being used as "pawns" in an attempt at "social engineering".

Coun Rutter added: "The amendment won't actually make that much difference. As it is in Gloucestershire unmarried couples already can adopt children but only one parent is actually named as the adoptive parent.

"Single people can adopt, and they may be in relationships and live together as a family so the proposals won't be a massive change.

"What it means is more security for the child involved as it will be adopted by two parents rather than just one.