The Only Way Is Essex star Lydia Bright has urged people in the UK to consider becoming foster parents.

The reality star’s own parents fostered children when she was growing up, and she said it was a “wonderful experience”.

Bright, who is expecting her first baby, spoke out as children’s charity Barnardo’s kicked off its Fostering Week campaign.

“Fostering has many benefits, not just for the foster children themselves but the whole foster family,” said the star.

“We’ve been so lucky to have so many foster siblings while we have been growing up.

“As well as being great fun, it taught us a lot about making friends and how to be kind to others.”

Bright, a fostering and adoption ambassador for the charity, added: “I truly can say that it’s been a wonderful experience and I hope many families across the UK will consider finding out more from Barnardo’s about how they can help.”

The charity said the number of children in care continues to rise, with a Department for Education report stating that in England the number of children in care has risen by 4% to 78,150 on March 31, 2019 from 75,420 on March 31, 2018.

Barnardo’s chief executive Javed Khan said: “Fostering changes children’s lives. Foster carers give children the care, love and hope they need to recover from past trauma and achieve a positive future.

“Barnardo’s has more than 100 years of experience finding families for vulnerable children. We support our foster carers throughout the process with training, opportunities to connect with others, and advice at the end of the phone.

“We urge anyone interested in becoming a foster carer to get in touch.”

For details visit www.barnardos.org.uk/fostering-week or call 0800 0277 280.