A NATIONWIDE search has been launched to find the descendants of vulnerable children who lived in Chipping Norton more than 100 years ago.

Action for Children is trying to identify some of the UK's first children in care, including those looked after at the Penhurst home in the West Oxfordshire town.

The charity has released historic images from its archives in a bid to trace the youngsters as part of its 150th anniversary celebrations.

It is hoped the project enables descendants find out more about family members who were in care between 1869 and 1919.

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Carol Iddon, Action for Children’s managing director of services, said: “This search is a reminder of how far we’ve come when it comes to helping the most vulnerable in society, but also how far we still have to go to make sure children today have a safe and stable future.

“Every day at Action for Children we still see families under threat of losing their home, living with problems like domestic violence or struggling to put food on the table. All the while, children’s services are continuously being stripped back due to lack of government funding.

"Our 150th year is a time to remember the first children we cared for and to hear their stories.

"But it should also serve as wake-up call to the work government and charities need to do now to invest in our children today and give them the childhoods they deserve.”

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Penhurst opened in 1903 as a home and residential school for children with disabilities and those recovering from illness or medical treatment.

Staff strived to help children become more independent as they move towards adulthood.

In 1953, it became Penhurst School, which provided specialised care for children with advanced disabilities up until its closure in 2013.

Penhurst Gardens Care Home, a retirement development for over-55s, was built in its place.

Action for Children hopes the search means the 'legacy of Penhurst’s life-changing work continues'.

For a gallery of more than 30 images go to actionforchildren.org.uk/archive. If you know anyone who was in Penhurst home, email 150@actionforchildren.org.uk