300 children waiting for adoption chance in West Midlands

There are 80 children in Wolverhampton, 20 in Sandwell, 40 in Dudley, and 40 in Walsall, along with 95 in Staffordshire and 40 in Worcestershire.

However many people are waiting for more than six months to get approved as adopters once they apply.

The Government has launched a new website featuring maps of areas with the biggest demand for adoptive parents.

Chiefs say there are often more potential adopters available than there are children waiting, but council boundaries can hold up the process.

In Dudley, 10 families were approved for adoption from April to December 2014, but none of these were given the green light within six months.

Of the 15 approved in Walsall in the same period, 10 were within six months, compared to five of the 20 in Sandwell.

Thirty out of the 60 families in Staffordshire were approved in six months.

It comes after Wolverhampton council revealed an average 673 days between a child entering care and then moving in with a family. The target is 548.

National figures show that 690 children are still waiting to be matched with new parents, with many having spent months in care.

In 2014-15, 460 children in the West Midlands were found a permanent home.

Liz Eddis, from Wolverhampton, is leading the calls for families to start adopting.

Miss Eddis, has taken on three sisters since 2006 and says adoption has given her the chance to have a family and change the lives of the children.

They are now aged nine, six and four and came into her care soon after each was born.

The 38-year-old midwife said: "I wanted to be a mummy and it has been the most wonderful experience.

"I had split up with my partner the year before but wanted to be a parent. When I had my first daughter I always wanted a sibling for her so I was really pleased when the local authority contacted me to ask if I would care for her sister too.

"I'm so lucky to have three children now and we have a got a great family."

She said people should not be put off by the application process and added: "We had a bit of a delay with one child when we waiting for approval but overall it was very positive and everyone is really helpful.

"It is worth the effort and I couldn't have wished to be in a better situation now."

John Simmonds, director of policy development and research at the British Association for Adoption & Fostering said: "Local authorities and voluntary agencies should encourage would-be adopters to think about whether they could be supported to parent a child, or children they may not have previously considered.

"This means helping adopters to understand children's needs and circumstances."

Councils will be encouraged to either combine their adoption services under one system or use outside agencies.

Councillor Paul Sweet, council chief for governance and performance in Wolverhampton, said: "The cases that are taking a long time between coming into care and being adopted are generally legacy cases where the child has been in care for some time or are harder to place children, such as older children or sibling groups."

Visit www.first4adoption.org.uk/ or call 0300 2220022 for more information about adoption.