An appeal was launched today for more foster parents as the number of children needing care continues to grow.

The Integrated Services Programme foster agency is looking for carers in Brighton and Hove.

Peter Johnstone, who manages ISP Sussex, at the Aviation Business Park in Hassocks, said: "We do get approaches from Brighton and Hove but it has always been more difficult to recruit there because of the housing situation. "It is expensive and not many families have spare rooms.

"It is easier to find foster carers further away from the city but the council have consistently referred to us and we want to respond to that by recruiting from the areas where these children come from."

Since it opened nearly a year ago ISP, a not-for-profit agency, has been supporting neglected and disturbed youngsters, many of whom have been abused.

Mostly between eight and 16, they may be suffering from emotional or behavioural problems.

ISP has received more than 400 inquiries from people interested in fostering, approved ten families in Sussex and placed four youngsters with carers.

The agency which has offices in Kent, Hertfordshire and London, provides a network of educational experts, psychologists and experienced foster carers.

In the next three years Mr Johnstone hopes to find more than 30 carers across Sussex who can offer homes for one night, a few weeks or even several years.

People interested in fostering will have a visit from ISP staff before taking part in a training course followed by reference checks and an assessment by social workers.

Susie Pickett, ISP foster care resource worker, said: "People think you have to be married to be a foster carer.

"The reality is there are many different types of children coming into our care and we need to match that with foster carers whether they are young or old, have children or not and are single or gay.

"There is a real sense of achievement from fostering if a child who doesn't smile or talk leaves your care happy and if you have been through hell to get to that point it makes it even better."

For information on fostering with ISP visit www.ispchildcare.org.uk