AN 'unacceptable' 57 per cent rise in the number of children in care in Gloucestershire in the past decade has been slammed by a councillor.

Figures released by Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) have revealed that the number of children under its care currently stands at 613, which has gone up from 555 this time last year.

This is a rise of 223 since 2008, according to figures acquired as part of an FoI request in 2013.

Cllr Joe Harris, Lib Dem shadow cabinet member for children and young people, said: “Many children are taken into care because their parents have mental health problems or substance abuse issues. Tackling these issues head on would help address this unacceptable situation."

GCC funding for children and families has gone from £91.7 million in the 2016/17 budget to £89.3 million in the 2017/18 budget, announced last month.

A GCC spokesman said: “We have not cut the budget for children and families. It has increased in real terms. The overall budget went down due to changes with the way central government allocate grants, namely a portion now goes directly to schools rather than through us and on to them."

Jo Walker, director of finance at GCC, added: “In February the council approved a budget of £58.683million for 2017/18 dedicated to vulnerable children. This included over £3.2million additional investment to help address the higher number of children in care that the county is currently seeing."

Cllr Paul McLain, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “The number of children in care is a constantly moving picture, however the general upward trend mirrors what is happening nationally."