A DRIVE to attract recruits for North Yorkshire's fostering service has taken to the road.

Community buses have been decked out with a new logo as Fostering North Yorkshire joins forces with the county's passenger transport department.

The publicity drive is aimed at encouraging people to consider becoming a foster carer.

The county council is especially looking for people willing and able to offer teenagers a place in their homes and families.

About 400 children are living with foster carers, who receive allowances of up to £14,971 a year when a child is in placement, but there is a need for more carers.

The county's executive member for children, Caroline Patmore, said: "Fostering can be for a few days, a few weeks or a few years. By giving a secure, consistent and loving home life to a young person for a short time, it can make a difference to the rest of their lives."

Foster carer Rachel Kraven, from Northallerton, said: "I know it sounds a bit of a cliche, but I wanted to make a difference and give children who may not have had a lot in their lives some stability and security.

"Children can be very angry when they first come into care. I can't deny it, it can be very stressful and, as with lots of things in life, you wonder why you are doing it.

"But we have fostered the same child for the last 14 months and now he is talking about a future for himself -university, a job -for the first time in his life, and we have done that."

Anyone interested in finding out more can call 0800-389-2362.