FOSTER carers will be granted free council tax as part of a scheme to help with costs and encourage more people into fostering.

Halton Borough Council has recently approved the plans which will see the exemption for both new and existing carers who live in the borough.

It is hoped that this will retain current fosters carers as well as encourage more people to join them.

Halton Borough Council's executive board member for children and young people, councillor Tom McInerney, said "Right now, a lot of work is being carried out to increase the number of council foster carers.

"We want to see our looked after children and young people thrive, and we want to support the foster carers who are making such a huge difference to their lives by relieving some of the financial pressure."

There are approximately 70 fostering households within the borough, meaning the new exemption totals approximately £70,000 per annum.

Councillor McInerney continued: "This is an invest to save initiative, if just one child is placed with a new council foster carer instead of a residential placement it would more than offset the total cost of the council tax discount."

To find out more about becoming a foster carer in Halton visit this website, call 0800 195 3175 or attend the next Become a Foster Carer information session at Halton Stadium on Tuesday, March 26 at 6pm.