A house in Widnes will be converted into a children's home after plans were given the go ahead.

Halton Council's planning department has approved an application by Widnes-based Truecare NW to transform a house on Birchfield Road into a home for a maximum of two children aged between eight and 18.

A planning application said the home's purpose would be to ensure children and young people would be provided with a 'long-term home'.

It added: "Looked After young people represent the most disadvantaged, marginalised, and alienated young people within our society."

The application added that the the staff team would consist of nine, but not all would be present on site at the same time. The staff would include a manager, deputy manager, senior support staff and residential support workers.

The application said: "We will ensure there is no adverse impact on the neighbours, including parking arrangements and other local amenities.  Handover will take place at 8am each morning so that it will be least disruptive. This is usually within the period that typical families leave for school and work, staff will support children to education during this time also."

It added that the company 'recognised' the identified need for children's homes of its nature in Halton and that it intended to place young people with links to Halton and Widnes as well as the Merseyside area.

It added: "This will enable children that cannot live with their families to remain close to their place of origin to help maintain their identity and stay close to family where appropriate.

"We will always aim to care for children that have suffered or were likely to suffer significant harm at home, providing a rightful place in society enabling them to live as part of a community and for this reason it is accepted practise in this field to care to seek to provide accommodation within established residential areas."