The Taylor family has been fostering children for nine years.

Chris and Linda, from Friarscroft, have two children of their own and came to fostering by accident when a girl they knew needed somewhere to stay.

Lin had been a nurse at Barnsley Hall hospital, on Birmingham Road for 18 years, but due to illness had to give it up. She felt lost without work and thinks it was fate that foster caring came along.

"I think it was just meant to be. It means I can still help children, even with my disability."

Chris worked as a baker at Safeway but gave it up to look after Lin as her illness got worse.

The couple now devote themselves to foster caring. They adapted their house so they could foster three children at a time.

But Lin admits: "If we had ten bedrooms, we'd love to have ten children!"

Carers are given full training before they begin fostering and the training and support from social services is on-going.

The Taylors began looking after older children and then did a conversion training course so they were able to look after younger children.

Most children are fostered for a temporary period and return to their own parents in time.

Lin and Chris have adopted one of the children they fostered, so he will stay with them until he's grown up.

Chris says: "We get up in the morning and feel good that we are making a difference."

Lin adds: "All children need is time and love. The change of environment is sometimes all that's required to help them but often it takes years to gain their trust."

"The reward is seeing them when they've grown up and they come back to our house because they want to see us and stay in touch."

The couple, who have been married for 27 years, have fostered 20 children and admit it hasn't always been easy.

Chris says: "It's hard work but we know that if we didn't help them they'd have to stay in a children's home or a secure unit."

Their advice to anyone thinking of fostering is talk to people who've done it. Social services can put people considering fostering in touch with carers so they can get a first hand impression of the work, and rewards, involved.

As Lin says: "When you see a smile on the face of a child who may not have smiled for years, you know it's all been worth while."

At the moment the county of Worcestershire needs 40 more foster families.

People of all ages, colours and creeds, married, and single, separate and divorced, unemployed or employed, with their own children or not, are all welcome. Social services will consider every person on their own merit.

For more information on fostering, contact Worcestershire social services on freephone 0800 0282158 or visit www.worcesterhire.gov.uk

Midlands Foster Care Associates is also appealing for foster carers. If you are interested call 01527 834300.