Cost of fostering

Figures obtained by the BBC show Gloucestershire County Council spent £141000 on private foster agencies last year.

Councils use the agencies when they can't place a child in care using their in house resources.

In a statement, Gloucestershire County Council says "When we need carers with additional skills we look within our own fostering service as well as agency foster carers. On the whole, agency places do cost more, however the needs of the individual child must always come first"