Single people, gay couples and people in their early 50s will all be considered should they want to adopt a child, social services bosses stressed today.

Although 30 Bradford youngsters have been adopted since April, another 36 under the age of eight are still waiting in limbo in the care system.

And to mark National Adoption Week, the council wants to hear from any loving, caring person interested in taking in a child.

Although would-be adopters face a rigorous six to nine month assessment process, people in all kinds of circumstances are welcome to apply.

The scheme is open to married couples, unmarried couples, gay and lesbian couples, and single people.

"There is a particular need for couples of dual heritage or mixed race background, because a number of the needy children have mixed parentage and would ideally be placed in a similar family," said Richard Bates, divisional manager at social services.

"We have 36 children on our books at the moment, for whom it has been decided that adoption is the way forward.

"Since April we have placed 30 children - it has picked up year on year over the past two years. This is partly hard work and partly because we have used Government money to 'buy in' adoption places from other local authorities, and voluntary agencies."

Of the children needing homes, 22 are boys and 14 are girls. Nine of them are aged two and under; seven are tots aged two to four; ten are aged four to six; and ten are aged seven or eight.

"If the youngsters - particularly the older ones - do not find adoptive homes soon, they face an uncertain future in children's homes or with a succession of foster families, as it is highly unusual for children over the age of eight to be adopted," Mr Bates said.

l There is an open evening on Thursday, October 12, from 2pm to 8pm at the Fostering and Adoption Unit, Aire Building, 35 Saltaire Road, Shipley, when people can talk informally to social workers and meet adoptive parents to find out what it's really like to adopt a child.