Vulnerable children living in residential children’s homes in Surrey are to be moved into foster families under council plans.

Surrey County Council hopes to get about 22 children out of homes into long-term foster placements by 2024.

The authority hopes the move will cut its children’s placement budget by £5m.

At the end of last year, Surrey had 140 children in regulated residential placements, including children’s homes, residential schools, care homes, parenting assessment units and secure units.