SCHOOL photographs on the television, children's drawings hung on the wall, kids' board games piled up on the bookcase.

The living room at Catherine and Tony's house is a typical scene of happy and hectic family life.

The couple, who have been together 10 years, have their own eight-year-old daughter called Imogen, and Catherine is currently five months' pregnant with their second child.

For many that would be busy enough.

But Catherine and Tony are also foster parents - having taken in no less than 47 children over the last seven years.

They are currently caring for two brothers aged eight and four on a long-term fostering placement and an 18-year-old girl they recently fought to keep with them past her milestone birthday.

In between there's been children of all ages from two and 18, all with their own different backgrounds, needs - and dramas.

They admit it's a challenging role, tackling behavioural problems and the emotional scars left from their upbringing so far.

Tantrums, bad language, physical assaults are not uncommon, while difficulties making attachments to people and an apprehension to give up control to adults are regular attributes of the children they look after.

Perhaps the most shocking tale the couple tell is of a 12-year-old girl who came to stay with them who had been working as a prostitute.

Catherine, 29, said: "She thought it was great - that it meant she could buy new trainers or a new mobile phone whenever she wanted to. She wasn't seeing the significance or the harm in it."

But as with the scores of other children who have stayed with them, the girl's life changed for the better when she walked through their front door - and that's what it's all about for them.

Catherine said: "It's not about baking bread or keeping a tidy house - it's about using the knowledge you have to make good decisions for the children.

"And it's not a selfish thing. I often get people saying 'oh how do you give them back?' but it's not about us, it's about them, and what's in their best interests.
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