Northumberland-based foster carers' fees are set to rise, ending a decade-long pay freeze.

Northumberland County Council announced the increase last week, after months of campaigning and a petition from carers belonging to the IWGB Foster Care Workers Union.

The new proposals will see carers' fees calculated based on the number of children they care for - a pay model closer to that of surrounding councils, said IWGB.

The model could result in fees more than tripling for those carers who look after several children.

However, many will still face a below-inflation pay rise, said IWGB, leaving them worse off in real terms than ten years ago.

IWGB said its members now want Northumberland County Council to bring fees in line with surrounding councils, and hold regular meetings with elected representatives.

Kenny Millard, chair of the IWGB Foster Care Workers Branch, said: "This improvement would not have happened without the passion and motivation of our members in Northumberland, who are relentlessly committed to winning better for the children in their care.

"There is no doubt that this move is a step in the right direction, but we have a long way to go before Northumberland foster carers get the support they deserve for doing one of the most important and demanding jobs there are."

IWGB pointed also to the issue of declining numbers of foster carers in Northumberland, and to research published earlier this year which identified a shortage of 6,500 foster families in the UK.