Researchers behind a report which found half of the children adopted in Brighton were housed with gay parents have admitted they got their sums wrong.

The survey by the Local Government Association (LGA) suggested 50 per cent of adoptive parents in the city are gay.

The true figure is 16 per cent - but is still among the highest in Britain.

A spokesman for the association said the mistake appeared to have been made when the report was being typed out.

The report also claimed the city council had barred a pair of potential foster carers because they said they were opposed to lesbians being parents.

Researchers for the LGA, a voluntary lobbying organisation representing councils across the country, also admitted that claim was probably not true.

Despite the errors, Brighton and Hove City Council was singled out for its success in combating homophobia.

In its study Sexuality - The New Agenda, the LGA praised Brighton and Hove for recruiting adopters through the gay Press and setting up a support group for gay and lesbian adoptive parents.

It said: "Now some 50 per cent of people being approved as adoptive parents in Brighton and Hove are from the lesbian, gay and bisexual community."

It described the council as "committed to taking rigorous action against homophobia."

A spokesman for the LGA said last night: "It appears there was a mistake made when the report was being written up. There seems to have been a glitch."

Legislation banning unmarried couples from adopting children was changed in November 2002, paving the way for more gay couples to adopt.

Previously, only one person from an unmarried couple could officially adopt a child.

The LGA guide aims to advise councils on how to conform to the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003.

The laws place a requirement on councils and other employers to recognise lesbian, gay and bisexuals as equals.

The council has drafted a policy designed to address concerns of the lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual community.

It has gone out for consultation and the final document is set to be published in March.

A council spokeswoman said: "We encourage all members of our diverse community to consider fostering and adoption.

"When placing children we consider very carefully the needs of the child and these considerations are paramount."

Last year the Christian Institute courted controversy producing donor cards for parents opposed to having their children adopted by homosexuals.

The cards were sent to organisations in Brighton and Hove.