City celebrity chef Michael Caines is helping boost adoption as a thank you for his own happy childhood.

Mr Caines, who was recently named Chef of the Year and is famed for his cooking at Gidleigh Park, near Chagford, was successfully adopted and is now aiding a bid to recruit prospective parents.

Together with Regal Hotels, he is offering heavily- subsidised rooms and meals at Exeter's Royal Clarence Hotel, where he has his own highly-rated restaurant, to potential adoptive families on a three-day residential course this week.

Normally, would-be adoptive parents attend six separate preparation sessions.

But with Mr Caines' help, the county's adoption unit is speeding up the process.

It is hoped that the course will lead to 10 new families adopting one, two or even three or more children into their homes. Devon currently has 17 mainly school- age children waiting to be adopted.

Potential adopters from across Devon will be able to meet parents who have gone through the procedure and hear from those who have been successfully adopted, including Mr Caines, who will be telling his own story today.

The course is part of a campaign to encourage more families to come forward to adopt older children, some of whom may have suffered abuse or neglect.

Currently, 39 sets of parents have been approved for adoption but around half would prefer a child of below school age.

Devon Social Services' adoption group manager Jonathan Hepworth explained: "We are always trying to encourage individuals and families of all ages and backgrounds in the county to consider adoption and the help and support of Michael Caines and the Royal Clarence Hotel is a real boost.

"This is the first time we have been able to hold such a residential course. As part of their preparation for adoption, would-be adoptive parents are normally invited to attend a six-session course spread over a number of weeks.

"The time and travel commitment involved in this has proved a barrier to many people taking part. This residential course has really helped us to attract a range of people from right across the county to participate."