Mum and daughter TV stars have launched the 10th annual fostering appeal for charity Barnardo's.

Woodford Green reality TV celebrities Lydia Bright and Debbie Douglas have launched a fostering campaign as figures show more children are being taken into care with fewer foster carers to look after them.

The stars from Essex reality TV show The Only Way is Essex are celebrity fostering ambassadors for the charity.

Mrs Douglas has fostered more than 200 children over the last 25 years.

She said: "Having a safe and caring family is so important when you are growing up. With so many more children coming into care, it’s so crucial that more people become foster carers. Knowing you can provide that loving family for a child when they need it most is so rewarding and can really help to transform their lives – and yours.

Miss Bright added: "We have loved having foster children as part of our family; it is incredible to see the difference having a caring, supportive family can make. We are proud to play a part in helping them to have a happy childhood and positive future."

Figures show the number of children in care in England has risen by 27 per cent in the last 10 years.

Last year 301,100 children, young people, parents and carers were supported by Barnardo's through more than 1,000 services across the UK such as young carers, care leavers, foster carers and adoptive parents, training and skills or parenting classes.

Barnardo’s chief executive Javed Khan said: "As the number of children in care continues to rise, we need more foster carers than ever before. At Barnardo’s we find loving families for vulnerable children in communities across the UK, and we give foster carers the training and support they need.

"Being a foster carer can be a challenge but it’s also incredibly rewarding and gives children the love, care and life skills they need to build better and brighter futures.

"I want to thank all of our amazing foster carers for helping us transform children’s lives. And I would urge anyone considering becoming a foster carer to get in touch to find out more. Incredible things happen when you believe in children."