John still a foster parent at 82

John Thearle has no intention of leaving his work in giving younger people a fresh chance in life.

It is clear that he loves his role as one of the country's older foster parents.

"Fostering gives me a reason to get up in the morning.

"Most people of my age probably spend their day reading the papers and 'pottering' but I have a real sense of purpose," he stated.

But he continued: "You have to expect the unexpected, in this line of work.

"Just when you think you have got everything in order, then something or someone upsets the apple cart.

"The past ten years have been a revelation to me and I am looking forward to the next ten years."

It was almost ten years ago when Mr Thearle saw an advert in a local paper for foster carers.

He thought it would be ideal for his wife, Hazel, because she had worked with young children and was missing the contact.

They attended an information meeting and have continued from there.

Their first placement was a boy aged ten, who stayed with them until he was 18 and went to live with his grandparents.

"He still keeps in touch and we love to see him whenever he is able to visit," says Hazel, who is several years younger than her husband.

Next came a 15-year-old boy before Mrs Thearle added to her knowledge by completing specialised training, run by the couple's agency Outlook Fostering Services, on the assessment of parents and babies.

She was complimented about her professional approach to her work and was said to have the ability to undertake such sensitive work.

A mother and her baby son soon arrived at the couple's home and recently moved into their own flat. Another young parent and baby are likely to follow.

Mrs Thearle commented: "I think that our age works in our favour at times as the children and young people don't feel we are parent replacements.

"You have to have lots of energy and I have always been very active."

Denise Robins, from Outlook Fostering, said it supported Mr and Mrs Thearle in spite of councils' doubts about their ages.

"Hazel and John have a knack of connecting with the young people and finding positives to focus on, no matter how small.

"They have succeeded where other, much younger carers, have struggled," she added.