MOST people who have been brought up in a care home will tell you that, given the opportunity, they would have been much happier living with parents.

But given that these homes are a necessary evil it is essential that they are run with all the love, care and discipline that children need to get the best possible start in life.

The number of young people in care in Swindon has increased dramatically not because more children coming into the system, but because they're now staying longer.

So two new homes are being built in the borough in a bid to cope with the increase.

This can only be good for these youngsters in need, some of whom currently have to be housed with other local authorities hundreds of miles away.

And the people who work with these children need all our support to do one of life's most difficult jobs.