A PROTEST has been held in Blackburn by a couple who claim social workers are trying to push through adoptions to meet government targets.

Kerry Duval, 25, and Adam Chelton, 26, are part of a national campaign Families Against Forced Adoption.

The couple were stood with a megaphone outside Blackburn with Darwen Council's offices in Duke Street on Monday morning.

They accused some social workers across the country of manipulating evidence, falsifying reports and breaching data protection.

Mr Chelton said: "There are people out there who contact social services for help when they are vulnerable but the social workers come and snatch their kids and do not give them back."

The couple vowed to carry out more protests in the coming weeks.

Linda Clegg, Director of Children's Services at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “There is absolutely no such thing as national targets for adoption in this way, and social workers do not undertake ‘forced adoptions’ in this sense. 

"In any adoption case, clear proceedings are followed which have to follow stringent legal procedures on all sides.

 "We recognise that this is an incredibly emotive issue but there is no basis of truth in these allegations.”