A PROJECT is seeking volunteers to provide respite care for autistic children.

Barnardo's Shared Care North-East helps children with physical and learning disabilities or serious illness to form friendships outside their families and gain experience of the outside world.

It also enables parents and siblings to take a break from their responsibilities.

The scheme relies on a team of befrienders, sitters and foster carers who give their time to form friendships with the youngsters, take them out on trips, or look after them overnight.

Judith Latheron, manager of Shared Care North-East, said: "Caring for an autistic child can be very tiring, as they can be demanding.

"Given the increasing number of children with autism and autistic spectrum disorders, we get a lot of requests for help and are always looking for people to come forward who feel they could offer short breaks."

Potential carers go through an assessment by the project, as well as police and social services checks and a medical. They receive home visits, training and a small allowance.

For more details on volunteering, call 0191-378 4800.