HUNDREDS of children are ­separated from their siblings every year when placed in foster care, according to new figures, with the split often leading to ­lifelong problems.

A Freedom of Information request to Scottish local authorities has revealed that 302 children were separated from brothers or sisters last year, more than one-third of all youngsters placed into foster care.

The request by the charity Action for Children was sent to all UK councils and 84 per cent responded. In Scotland, 787 children, making up 302 sibling groups, were placed in foster care between April 2013 and March 2014. Of these, 302 were separated from one or more siblings.

The charity warns that splitting children from their brothers or sisters can result in damage to their emotional or mental health, and risks making foster placements more likely to break down.

Further down the line, it says separated siblings are more likely to perform poorly at school and face a higher risk of problems in adulthood, such as difficulty finding a job, drug and alcohol addiction, homelessness or ­criminal activity.

More than half of children surveyed by Action for Children Scotland said they felt "upset and angry" at being separated from siblings in foster care.

One girl, now 17, was separated from her brothers when she was just one. She was in care for seven years and only saw her older brother three times during that period. She has since re-connected with both brothers through social media, but said: "I feel like my life was wasted because I didn't know my family.

"I should have been allowed to grow up with my brothers even though I was in care - people should have made sure that happened. I would have had a much happier childhood if I'd known that I had someone."

Sir Tony Hawkhead, chief executive of Action for Children said; "For many children, being taken into care can be a confusing and upsetting time. Add the distress of being split up from your brother or sister into the mix and the impact will last a lifetime.

"Nobody wants to separate brothers and sisters but there simply aren't enough foster carers in Scotland at the moment who can look after siblings."

In some cases children need to be cared for on a one-to-one basis, but these are the exceptions, Sir Tony said. This can be because they have been affected by neglect or abuse, or because the relationships between siblings are very difficult.

"We know that in some cases children can be so badly hurt by what has happened to them before going into care, including severe neglect and abuse, that they need one-to-one support," he said.

"In the vast majority of cases, however, siblings benefit hugely by staying together."

Although councils recognise that it is important not to break up brothers and sisters, some could do more, he said. "It is important that every local authority is consistent and has a consistently strong approach to keeping siblings together whenever possible."

Although there is a nationwide shortage of foster carers, the charity says almost half of adults in Scotland say they are willing to foster children, and 89 per cent of them would be prepared to foster care to siblings.

However, Sir Tony said myths about who could foster were putting people off. "There is a lot of evidence that people who would be wonderful foster carers rule themselves out because they are single, or over 55, or in a same-sex couple, or because their home is rented. We have foster carers in all those situations."

Another perception - that it takes a long time to foster - is also a myth, he said, with the charity's carers receiving six months of support before they start.