ADOPTIONS in Dorset are taking an average of 315 days – said to be much better than other councils.

Education and children's services portfolio holder Cllr Clare Sutton, says while she wished the process could be quicker, Dorset was doing relatively well with the national average at 475 days.

She told Tuesday's Cabinet meeting that much of problems were because of a lack of suitable adopting families with the numbers having reduced by 25 per cent.

"This is disappointing, but it is less worse, than rates reported nationally," she said.

Cllr Sutton (Rodwell & Wyke) said she was hopeful that the appointment of a marketing officer would help encourage more people in Dorset to consider adoption and the vetting and processing of prospective adopters had been rated as consistently good by the adoption panel.

She said that nine adopters had been approved in the first quarter of this financial year with a projection of achieving 35 in the full year.

"Providing a safe, loving adoptive families for the children in our care who need them is one of the most important and life-transforming tasks Dorset Council undertakes.

"For adults considering becoming adoptive parents please, please get in touch."