Council reverse in equality row

The Mathericks are delighted with the new decision

A Christian couple who refused to sign a "sexual equality" contract could be reunited with an 11-year-old foster child who was taken from them.

Carers Vincent and Pauline Matherick have taken 28 at risk children into their home in Chard, Somerset.

But the couple faced deregistration for failing to comply with legislation requiring them to treat homosexuality as equal to heterosexuality.

Now Somerset Council has decided the pair can continue to foster children.

Mr Matherick, 65, said although he would not condemn homosexuality, he could not actively "promote it" because of his religious beliefs.

'Good news'

The couple faced being deregistered as foster carers if they did not comply with the new legislation and decided to stop fostering.

Their 11-year-old foster son, who had been with them since 2005, was moved to a children's unit.

But on Thursday, the Mathericks were told they could continue fostering and would not have to "promote homosexuality".

"It's good news and we're very pleased," Mr Matherick said.

A spokesman for Somerset County Council said that it was obliged to implement the regulations and insisted the Mathericks had not been "forced out" of foster caring.

"Mr and Mrs Matherick continue to have contact with some children they have previously fostered and Children's Social Care welcomes this," he said.

The government's Sexual Orientation Regulations, enacted this year, make it illegal for the suppliers of goods or services to discriminate on the grounds of sexuality.