Five children may be considered a large family, but for foster carer, Margaret Fenton it is nothing out of the ordinary.

Having fostered her first child seven years ago, the Scunthorpe housewife, refused to look back again. The lady urges others to get involved as part of Foster Care Fortnight.

"We adopted a daughter about 12 years ago, and then thought we'd quite like another," she said."But we were aware it's quite hard work, so we looked at fostering instead".

Requiring a mixed approach, she has housed children of various ages. She currently is caring for three children, including a baby.

Carrying a wide experience of looking after a 15-year-old, Margaret, says that since all children are different, so it's a different challenge every time.

While some only come for a week others stay as long as five years.

She estimates 90 per cent of the children she has looked after are only temporarily in care while problems are resolved at home, but others are in the care system long-term.

They've all been through things they shouldn't have been through she says.

"I had no problems with school - all mines have been fine. The kids' behavior has been challenging, but the schools work with me."

She was speaking out in support of North Lincolnshire Council's bid to boost its number of registered foster carers by 87.

Foster carers in the region cared for about 203 children last year, but it is estimated about 8,200 more carers are still needed across the UK.