JOB opportunities are being created in the Wear Valley by an expanding company that moved to the district this year.

Reach Out Care, an agency for foster carers and a support and training network for social and community services, moved to the outskirts of Bishop Auckland when it outgrew its former Durham City base.

Now it is planning to enlist foster carers in the area to meet the nation's demand for long and short-term care for children.

It will recruit and train support staff to offer 24-hour help for families, children and carers.

It hopes to take on former teachers and people interested in children to offer classroom help and care in the community.

Maria Jones, foster care manager, said: "We desperately need staff and carers because the demand from local authorities, social services and the private sector is huge.

"We want to take on local people so they can become close and build strong relationships and help each other.

"People don't always think of fostering as a job, but it is a very rewarding, worthwhile way of earning money. The kind of people we will take on are not motivated by money, but we respect the need for it, so fostering and our other lines of work do pay fairly well."

Foster carers taking a child into their home are paid a weekly allowance of at least £340 to provide for the child and to earn for themselves.

The move to Wear Valley was primarily due to premises.

The next course for people wishing to learn about becoming foster carers will be held on four consecutive Sundays from June 20. For details, call (01388) 770850.