MORE children from Barrow are growing up in care than those in any other part of Cumbria, new information has revealed.

A total of 162 youngsters from the town are living in placements found by Cumbria's social services - 89 boys and 73 girls - with neglect proving the largest contributor to the high number of children being removed from their families.

The number includes 11 babies and 16 children under the age of four, while a further 39 five to nine-year-olds from the borough are no longer living with a parent.

But the age group with the largest number of children living as wards of the state are those aged ten and over - with 96 classed as 'looked after' by Cumbria County Council.

Cumbria's children's services boss and Hindpool representative, Councillor Anne Burns, said she was disappointed to see Barrow had the highest number of children in the care system despite ongoing work in the area to support families.

"As quickly as we are putting things in place to strengthen and support families in Barrow, the number of children coming into care keeps going up.

"Unfortunately, the biggest cause is neglect.

"We are looking at this situation very closely to see how best we can tackle it. We want to make parenting courses available and put more support in place for parents before children are identified as at risk."

Cllr Burns added: "We want children to be able to stay at home, which is the best place for them. But they have a right to live in a safe, secure home and we are working very hard to make sure their families can provide this for them, with community support."

The information has been released ahead of a presentation to CCC councillors next week which will outline ongoing work to improve the authority's children's services department.

There are now 629 children in care in Cumbria.

While Barrow has the highest single number, Carlisle is second with 138 followed by Copeland with 131.

Allerdale has 129 children in care, South Lakeland 61 and Eden 18.

The information shows 385 are placed with foster carers - around half employed directly by CCC and the rest through private foster care agencies. Some 73 live have been placed with family members or friends under agreements made by social workers.

There are 59 youngsters living in childrens' homes, while 32 more live at a residential school.

Spending on children in care bust CCC's budget by almost £8 million last year.

To help reduce spiralling costs, bosses within CCC have been campaigning to recruit more local authority foster carers for some time.

On Tuesday this week, the county council launched a recruitment drive for the South Lakeland area, speaking of an "urgent need" for more foster carers. The campaign outlines how each type of fostering comes with different challenges and rewards, and the council and existing foster carers will help prospective foster carers to explore the type most suited to them and their family.

People who are interested can be assured they will be fully supported through the training, assessment and approval stages. Once approved foster carers then receive on-going support and training from social work professionals and other foster carers.

Cllr Burns added: “People can be quick to rule themselves out of fostering. We understand there are a lot of myths around, but if you have a spare room there’s potentially a scheme for you.

“Experience of working with children or young people can be beneficial but not always necessary, as full training and support will be provided. The best way to find out more is to come to one of our events and meet our foster carers.”

For more information visit cumbria.gov.uk/fostering or call 0303 333 1216.

Kids in care: The facts

:: Barrow has the highest number of children in care

:: There are more boys than girls in the care system in Cumbria

:: 31 per cent have been placed outside of the county

:: The cost of children in care in the county is soaring - Cumbria County Council's children looked after budget overspent by £7.999 million in 2016/17