NINETY children in Huddersfield urgently need parents willing to adopt them – and it looks like two-thirds of them will soon have new homes.

Kirklees Council is keen to find “forever families” for these children in its care who are hoping to be adopted.

Huddersfield Town is backing the council’s campaign to encourage more people to adopt.

Nationally, about 4,000 children are waiting to be adopted at any one time.

In Kirklees the number of children awaiting adoption has risen almost three-fold in recent years – from 33 in 2009 to 90 in 2012.

The council’s adoption team is on track to successfully place 60 children with adoptive families locally and across the country.

But more families are urgently needed to meet the ever-increasing number of children coming into its care system.

Clr Cath Harris, Cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “Adoption is one of the best ways of providing a new family for children who cannot be brought up by their own parents.

“With more children than ever going into care, the need for adoptive parents has never been more critical which is why we are appealing to people from Yorkshire and further afield to come forward.

“Many of the children in need of adopting have been unable to remain with their birth family, because of neglect, abuse or perhaps just because their parents are unable to cope.

“Some may have suffered traumatic experiences in their short lives, others have learning difficulties or health problems.

“These children have so much to offer and all they are asking is to be part of a family.

“By being given the chance to grow up in a permanent, loving environment they stand the best chance of overcoming many of these issues and, ultimately, thrive.”

She said: “We work closely with local authorities across the country to find the best possible match for both parent and child as quickly as possible and without delay.

“We’ve also significantly reduced the timescales for approving new adoptive parents. The Government target is eight months, but we’re already consistently achieving our own target of six months.”

Huddersfield Town chief executive, Nigel Clibbens, said: “We consider ourselves to be very much a community club and a family club and as such we are delighted to be able to back Kirklees Council’s adoption campaign.

“The number of children awaiting adoption is increasing and we hope we can do our part in helping to raise awareness of the need for adoptive parents.”

Call 0800 0283001 or visit www.kirklees.gov.uk/adopting