SIR,

I have been fostering with my wife Julie for 17 years and can honestly say it is so rewarding that we wouldn't consider doing anything else.

We believe that every child deserves a good start in life and I feel so proud to have been able to make a difference to the lives of so many children.

However, foster care is under pressure. A child now comes into care and needs fostering every 22 minutes. This means thousands more foster carers are urgently needed across the UK.

So, I would urge anyone who has ever thought about fostering to get in touch with their local fostering service today or visit http://www.22minutes.org.uk">www.22minutes.org.uk to find out more.

It could be one of the most important and rewarding decisions you ever make.

Philip Coghill

(Foster carer and chair

of the Fostering Network)