The number of children in the care of a council has increased by over a quarter in the past three years.

Figures released by Leicestershire County Council showed the number of youngsters in care increased from 310 in March 2008 to 388 in June this year.

The figures include children who have been fostered or adopted as well as those in care homes.

Staff at the council said the increase was in line with the national trend, with the sharpest rises occurring in the over-15 age group and babies and toddlers.

Jan Slater, head of the authority's children in care service, put the increase down to heightened awareness following the death of 17-month-old Peter Connelly – known as Baby P – who died of multiple injuries in London in 2007, as well as an increase in the number of homeless teenagers.

She said: "Following the Baby Peter case, there was lots of concern about making safe decisions when it comes to babies, and lots more cautious decision making when it comes to intervening in homes.

"Because of this it is right numbers have gone up."

In a report to the council's shadow health and wellbeing board, Mrs Slater put the rise in teenagers in care down to increased homelessness and more young people engaging in "risky behaviour" such as taking drugs.

She said the increase was also due to a change in case law two years ago, which now meant the authority had more responsibility to find homes for homeless teenagers.

The report was made ahead of a meeting which took place yesterday.

Mrs Slater said the purpose of the meeting was to start looking at a five-year plan for the service.

She said: "Right now it is just about making the board aware of the situation.

"We have a duty to make sure we are as efficient as possible and are constantly reviewing our practices and the figures we have for children in care.

"Currently, 90 per cent of our children are placed through our foster carers, which is preferable in most cases.

"Now we will be looking at whether we should – and when we should – go to an independent private care provider, and the things we should look for when choosing one."

Rob Parkinson, chief executive of Wigston charity Action Homeless, said the increasing number of young homeless people was an issue.

He said: "We are worried about it irrespective of these figures being released because it is something we have known about.

"One of the main issues is because children who were in care from a young age can often fall on to a pathway which sees them try to make it on their own, perhaps in supported accommodation, and for one reason or another this goes wrong.

"They can end up homeless or in young offender institutions.

"We are doing things to try to stop this and provide an alternative pathway.

"For instance, we have set up an enterprise called Action Clean to give young people work and experience.

Things such as that can help break the cycle."