You have to want to do it and most people go into fostering because they genuinely want to help children Foster carer Louise Zlotnicki

The county, which already has 61 carers, needs an extra 15 to help with children of all ages.

The authority said that people were reluctant to take on the role because they were uncertain what the task involved.

It added that there was a shortage of foster carers throughout the UK.

Stephen Humphreys, senior practitioner at Powys council's family placement team in Newtown, said carers were paid and received training.

"People don't need to have children of their own to provide the care a foster child is looking for," he said.

"However, they do need to be patient, committed and have an understanding of children who will be living away from their family.

"We also looking for people who can provide shared or respite care. This provides parents with a break."

Mr Humphreys explained that foster carers looking after children aged from 11 to 15 received an allowance of �153.84 per week.

Those who cared for so-called "difficult children" received more.

"There's a national shortage of carers and we're just one county trying to address that," added Mr Humphreys.

"Our campaign will raise awareness of foster caring. I think one of the issues is that people are not sure what the task involves.

Advisers will be on hand at a show in Builth Wells, 21-22 May

"More foster carers will mean increased placement choice for families."

Mother-of-six Louise Zlotnicki, from Goginan, near Aberystwyth, has fostered 80 children with her husband David over the last 14 years.

"You have to want to do it and most people go into fostering because they want to genuinely help children," she said.

"You become a foster parent because you are a caring person and most people do it from the heart."

She added: "Sometimes it can go really well, but it's not always like that and you have to remember that the children don't want to live in a strange house with people they don't know."

Last month, Denbighshire County Council awarded its foster parents with a pay rise as part of a drive by social services to find more carers.

Council leaders agreed to spend an extra �300,000 on fostering allowances, giving increases of up to �20 a week for each child.