PLANS to create one great big merged adoption service across the entire West Mercia region have been abandoned - after council chiefs said it wasn't "cost effective".

Your Worcester News can reveal how Worcestershire County Council, which first unveiled the grand plan two years ago, has decided to shelve the idea.

Under the strategy the county intended to team up with Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Council to create one adoption department.

The suggestion followed concern taxpayers are forking out £1 million every year for the service at County Hall, but often not enough suitable people come forward as potential adopters.

But since then doubts have emerged about the possible savings, which were estimated at £200,000 a year for each council two years ago.

At the time of the Conservative leadership endorsing the idea in late 2013, leader Councillor Adrian Hardman said he was "convinced" it would make a difference.

Bosses have now decided to scrap the idea, saying the maths did not ultimately add up.

A wide-ranging consultation included extensive talks with families that had already adopted to get their views on it, which was also a factor.

Conservative Councillor John Campion, the cabinet member for children and families, said: "The council was working with Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin to look in to the possibility of creating a joint adoption service.

"In-depth analysis and feedback from staff and service users established that it wasn't cost effective for us to enter into a shared agreement to deliver these services.

"The work that went into this project has been of great benefit, as it has allowed us to identify how we can join with our neighbouring councils and share information and training to improve our services for adopters."

Since 1998 councils in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin have ran a joint adoption service, costing around £850,000 a year to run.

The county council says it aims to approve all adopters in Worcestershire within six months, and there is no upper age limit, with the starting point being 21.

It comes as the British Association for Adoption & Fostering has released new details showing how 49 per cent of children looking for families have siblings.

The body said it was concerned about its research, saying there is a "shortage of adopters coming forward".

A spokesman said: "Sibling groups are amongst the children who wait longest to be adopted as there are not enough people coming forward who are able to give them a safe, permanent and loving family."

Anna Sharkey, the chief executive of Adoption Focus, said: "We really need people who are considering adoption to think about adopting brothers and sisters to help rectify this shortage, which sadly is also a national problem."

* An adoption information event will be held at Worcestershire Country Cricket Club, in New Road on Monday, starting at 6pm.

* Worcestershire is always looking for suitable adopters. To see how you can adopt or foster a child visit the county council's dedicated website all about it HERE.