HEALTH Secretary Alan Milburn last night pledged to investigate after The Northern Echo was offered a baby over the Internet.

It took only minutes for our reporters, posing as prospective parents, to register their interest in a child from the former Soviet Union.

An agency then offered the child, known as Timur, for adoption via a step-by-step guide. We would be charged service fees of up to $19,000 (about £13,000).

When The Northern Echo spoke to the Californian agency, Aurora International, we were told to expect "more bureaucracy" adopting as prospective parents from the UK, rather than the US.

But a visit to Kazakhstan, the birthplace of Timur, could be arranged within three months, once the relevant paperwork had been returned and clearance gained.

Another US Internet consultancy, European Adoption Consultants Inc, promised to bypass any difficulties caused by immigration and state laws.

The ease with which the paper was able to register to adopt a child from abroad has sparked an outcry from adoption agencies and social service representatives.

It followed mounting concern over Welsh couple Alan and Judith Kilshaw, who brought twins to Britain from the US after buying them over the Internet.

Last night, police, social services and a paediatrician were reported to be having talks with the Kilshaws.

Their arrival sparked speculation that social services intended to take the children into care.

Last night, a spokeswoman for Mr Milburn said he would be willing to look into any findings uncovered by The Northern Echo.

The Overseas Adoption helpline, which advises parents on adoption from abroad, urged caution. It said it had not heard of either of the Internet agencies.

Felicity Collier, chief executive of the British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering, said her "worst fears were confirmed" and called for a tightening up of adoption procedures.

Councillor Bill Dixon, who is chairman of Darlington Borough Council social services cabinet committee, said: "This is absolutely horrifying.

"It seems little better than a slave trade in human flesh. If anyone wants to adopt a child properly, they would be best to register with their local adoption agency.

"And if you were to bring a kid into this country from somewhere like Kazakhstan, how will they settle in a totally different environment?"

Echo reporters gained access to adoption information via a website called adoptablekids.com. It is described as a "free community service dedicated to helping children in orphanages around the world to find loving permanent homes". Prospective parents can conduct a search for a suitable child by keying in characteristics such as age, sex and race.

The Internet also provides pictures of foreign youngsters, who are often only referred to by a number.

We eventually came across Timur through a link to Aurora International.

The agency has adoption programmes centred around Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.

A video of Timur, described as a "healthy little boy", was available and a service fee would have to be paid of $14,000, payable in three instalments.

The first was payable upon signing a contract, the second upon sending the dossier of documents required for adoption approval back to the agency, and the third upon actually picking up the child.

Government approval, a "home study", air fares and accommodation would add up to a further $5,000.

Non-American citizens are said to be eligible for adopting as long as they fit basic criteria required of US citizens.

Ruben Manasyan, chief executive officer of Aurora International, told an Echo reporter, posing as a parent, that they had received inquiries from ten to 15 Britons about their services, but none had followed their interest up.

He said anyone paying the fees involved was "buying a service, not the child". Parents were vetted, with checks on their home background and their financial situation.

Mr Manasyan said: "You need to find out if your government will give permission to bring this child back to the UK. But I will get you all your paperwork, and as soon as you have finished that you can travel."

A Home Office spokeswoman said that Kazakhstan was not a "designated" country, and entry clearance into Britain would be different to bringing in a child from the US.

Clearance would be required from the nearest British diplomatic mission where the child lived.

Anyone wishing to be recognised as adoptive parents under UK laws would then have to adopt the child through the British courts.

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