A TOTAL of 25 foster carers, with 175 years of caring between them, will be honoured next week at a Christmas party.

Special mention will be made of Ormesby couple Brenda and Bill Rathbone at the Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council event.

The couple have fostered 70 children over 22 years after being inspired to begin fostering by tragedy.

Mrs Rathbone said: "When we first came to live in Ormesby, we had recently lost our baby son and wanted to give our daughter a playmate. Basically, we do it because we love children and we have no intention of retiring."

They are currently caring for two boys, aged ten and 11, and a 20-year-old girl.

The couple have fostered children for periods ranging from a weekend to 12 years.

"We fostered two sisters, one for ten years and one for 12 and they are still part of the family," said Mrs Rathbone.

The council's social services department will present certificates for five, ten, 15 and 20 years' service to carers at the party at the Grosmont Resource Centre, in Redcar, on Monday.

Chris Priestman, child placement team manager, said: "The Rathbones have been excellent carers for a lot of years, they are an invaluable part of our team. The party is our way of saying thanks for all the hard work and long service that these carers have given to children in Redcar and Cleveland over the years."

The council is looking for more people to become carers. For more information, call (01642) 495910 or log on to www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk