There is too much delay in care proceedings which damage vulnerable children said Barnado's,UK's largest children's charity.

According to figures released today, abused children had to wait more than 56 weeks before county courts issued orders to take them into care or a supervision order was made. Barnado's argued that this delay forced many vulnerable children to continue living in abusive homes and urged the government to put a 30 week upper limit on court proceedings.

It was also revealed that family court proceedings took an average of 45 weeks, while unresolved cases increased to 12,994 in 2009 compared to 8,677 in 2008 - an increase over 50%.  Further, vulnerable children were facing a "postcode lottery" said the charity.  

The figures provided in written answers to Parliamentary questions from Lib Dem MP Annette Brooke, highlighted that county court proceedings in Humber and South Yorkshire took 46 weeks compared to 65 weeks in London.

Barnado's chief executive Martin Narey said: "An insecurity has spread through the family courts with additional, sequential expert assessments being routinely ordered.

"This paired with the evident lack of credence given to social workers, is causing unnecessary delay.

"The courts need urgently to reflect on the damage these delays are having on extremely vulnerable children.

"A year of a child's life is an inordinate amount of time for them to be trapped in desperate limbo, unclear of their future and very possibly at risk.

"During this time, these children might remain at home with neglectful or abusive birth families or be living in emergency foster care, expected to settle with families they may subsequently have to leave.

"At a time when stable relationships and secure attachments are vital for a child, they are instead engulfed in a period of uncertainty and confusion."

Hugh Thornbery, director of children's services at Action for Children, said: "Today's findings are a cause for serious concern.

"For children who are unable to stay with their birth families, entering the care system is an extremely uncertain and unsettling time, and it's critical that their care provision provides them with the stable and secure home environment that they need.

"Being left languishing in emergency foster placements for unknown extended periods of time can only have a detrimental effect on children, and risks giving them a false sense of security at a time when they need stability the most.

"More must be done to ensure that vulnerable and neglected children do not get left in this situation; only then will they be given the opportunities they deserve to achieve their life chances."

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "The government is committed to reducing unnecessary delay in care proceedings.

"A Family Justice Review is currently under way gathering evidence on problems in the current system and proposals for change.

"The panel leading the review shares Barnardo's concerns and has met their representatives to discuss suggestions for reform.

"4,000 extra sitting days were added to the family courts earlier in 2010 to deal with care cases and the Government will continue to monitor the situation.

"We are also exploring proposals to make better use of local performance groups to give local decision makers more ownership of the system, empowering them to tackle the local causes of delay.

"The government is clear that every child's case should be dealt with as quickly as possible to minimise trauma and keep young people safe from harm."