Their target over the next 12 months is to find at least 40 children permanent homes and to sign up 40 extra foster parents to give youngsters security and love while adopters are found.

Jayne, 37, has looked after more than 50 children in just four years, often taking them in at just a few hours notice.

She urged people to back the Find A Family campaign.

She said: “We do need more foster parents. In the past I have taken lots of children in at the same time.

“Fostering has its ups and downs. But the rewards you get from seeing the children develop and do well make it worthwhile.”

Leicester social services director Andrew Cozens said: “In Leicester we are lucky to have a very dedicated group of foster carers who offer homes to more than 80 per cent of local children who can’t stay with their own families.

“Many of these children have already experienced considerable disruption in their lives and they badly need temporary homes where they can feel welcome and safe.

“Unfortunately, there is a huge shortage of foster carers nationally and, despite our successes in Leicester, we still need more people to come forward. We need carers for children of all ages, especially boys aged eight and over.

“Another major shortage is people who have enough space for groups of brothers and sisters. We need people from every community in Leicester.”

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