COMEDIAN Miranda Hart and TV presenter Fern Britton are among celebrities backing a campaign to recruit more foster carers in Somerset.

Celebrities and local foster carers are sharing their favourite family recipes – click on the link for details – as part of Somerset County Council’s drive to raise awareness and attract more foster carers.

Miranda Hart’s chocolate strawberry trifle and Fern Britton’s chilli baked beans are sure to be popular.

Fern Britton said: “Some children in the UK don’t have the basics that every child should be able to expect from their parents.

“Foster carers give the love, support, guidance and encouragement that children need to develop and have the best chance of a positive future.

“With a child coming into care and needing a foster home every 22 minutes, find out if you have the skills needed to foster today.”

Cllr John Osman, the council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said: “The number of children in care in Somerset has risen from around 370 to more than 500 in three years, an increase partly due to the high profile Baby P case.

“Foster carers are needed to give these children safe, warm, loving homes for short and long periods of time.

“I’m pleased that celebrities and local foster carers are supporting our campaign to encourage people to come forward and foster.”

Chris and Sheila, who have been fostering since 1998, have added their apple cobbler recipe.

They said: "We’d recommend fostering to anyone who loves children, has great patience and tolerance and would be able to make a difference in children’s lives.

“From your input you’ll get back huge satisfaction, much love and the knowledge that you’ve really helped a child when help was needed."

To find out more about fostering, click on the link or call 0800-5879900.