AN English language study firm is appealing for local families to adopt a French child for a few weeks this summer.

Belaf, run by husband and wife team Tim and Carole Browne, of Cherhill, provides study holidays for French- speaking children.

The couple find families in southern England for children aged between 12 and 16 and have as many as 250 children from across the French-speaking world each July alone. Mrs Browne said: "You never know how you're going to find places in families for them, and sometimes it's very last minute, but we always get there in the end."

In 1975, Mr Browne was working as a teacher for the British Council in French- speaking Togo, West Africa.

He was asked to set up the school so French children could study with English families as individuals and not in groups.

Originally, about 25 families were involved; now 300 host the children each year.

The children live with the families as paying guests and are issued with study packs.

The Brownes visit the children at least twice during their stay to make sure they are settled, happy and following the course properly. Call (01249) 812551 for details.