FOR the last two weeks, councils up and down the country have been promoting the joys of fostering as part of National Fostering Fortnight.

Thanks to a storyline in Coronation Street and a unique project from social workers, staff at one East Lancashire council are banking on the fortnight being a success.

The story involving transsexual Hayley Patterson and boyfriend Roy Cropper's bid to become foster parents in Coronation Street has had the nation gripped.

Their obvious inability to have their own children -- with Hayley played by East Lancashire actress Julie Hesmondhalgh -- has prompted them to become foster parents.

Their first foster child accused Roy of hitting her, while the second, Wayne, this week refused to return home after a short stay with the Croppers, admitting his step-father beats him up.

It has yet to be seen whether this plot will lead to a upturn in ratings for the ITV soap, but it has served to push the issue of fostering back into the public eye -- something social workers at Blackburn with Darwen Council are grateful for, even if the storyline is a bit sensationalist.

At the moment, the social services department has around 100 foster parents on their books -- and some 300 children in care.

Children in care includes youngsters living in children's homes, living with foster carers and living at home but with court orders on them giving the council a say in their upbringings. Now Blackburn with Darwen Council hopes to build up a database of families prepared to bring children into their home, enabling them to match youngsters to foster parents who come from similar backgrounds.

It also wants to find more adults who will take in youngsters for a weekend or a short period of time, giving their natural parents time to get themselves together which, should, hopefully, prevent the child from needing a permanent foster home in the future.

Joanne Whitworth, a social worker with Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "Ideally, we want to have as many of our children as possible living in a family setting rather than in a home, though it is inevitable that some children will only be suited to a home.

"Every year, we attract around 12 new foster carers but we may lose six as people's circumstances change which is why, in one respect, this storyline in Coronation Street is good because it draws attention to the issue.

"We haven't had a surge of people joining us as foster parents as a result, but we hope that by giving the issue a push, it will get more people involved."

To that end, the council has hit upon a novel way of ramming home the message that they have children who need help -- they have asked them to write letters saying what sort of family they would like to be with, what their interests are and so on.

They make a tear-jerking read -- with girls openly talking about how they like Blackburn Rovers or riding ponies and saying how they would like brothers or sisters to play with.

Children end in care for a multitude of reasons -- some are abused, neglected or abandoned. In other cases, circumstances change, parents can't hope or maybe just need a break to get their head straight.

Joanne added: "We hope it encourages more people to come forward. We hope it makes sure people know there are children out there just waiting to go into a loving home because, for whatever reason, they haven't always got one now.

"We are also looking for people who can look after youngsters on a short-term basis and we are also looking for more people to become permanent foster carers."

Lorraine Aldcroft and her husband David become foster carers this year, taking in a young boy. Lorraine, who lives in Darwen, admits it was hard at first but now, five months on, she says the rewards are there.

"At first, he just didn't settle and just didn't have social skills. He didn't know to use a knife and fork when we were out and didn't have any decent belongings.

"Our son also resented the fact there was a stranger in the house. It didn't drive us to tears, but it was hard at first and I felt guilty for upsetting our son.

"But five months on, he is well-behaved and he and my son like each other. They'll never love each other, but even real brothers don't, do they?"

She added: "Things like seeing how his handwriting has improved make it all worth while and we are very glad we did this."

Joanne added: "The other stereotype we need to banish is that older youngsters are more trouble. That isn't true. It also helps if we can keep some of the children with their brothers or sisters. Really, it is a case of people thinking how they can help and coming forward."

People living within Lancashire County Council-controlled areas can contact the family placement team in Burnley if they are interested in fostering.

A spokesman said: "For those children unable to stay with their own families, the most appropriate situation would be within the warmth and caring atmosphere of a foster family."

They can be contacted at Chaddersley House, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1HW or by ringing 01282 425961.