People who are interested in adopting will be able to speak to experts during an online Q&A session later this month.

Parents And Children Together (PACT), an adoption charity, is set to host the free, live event on September 26 at 12.30pm for Oxfordshire residents.

The session will provide an opportunity for prospective parents to speak with an adoptive parent of three children and a member of the charity's adoption team.

Rated as 'outstanding' by Ofsted in 2023, PACT recruits, prepares, approves and supports adoptive parents for children waiting in care.

It also works to keep as many siblings together as possible. Last year, 40 per cent of the children the charity found permanent families for were siblings.

Its service director for adoption, Lorna Hunt, said: "PACT is always looking for potential parents with hearts open to the joy of a bigger family with the reassurance that PACT will always support their families for the times that may be more challenging."

Ellie and Andrea have adopted three children through the charity. They said: "Our children always have playmates and we have the large family we dreamt of.

"But, undoubtedly, the most important aspect is that they have each other.

"These little people have experienced so much uncertainty and change in their short lives, the only consistent factor has been their brothers and sisters – and this is something we were determined to protect."