A COUPLE claim that a passing remark about white foreigners caused them to be rejected as foster parents. David and Sarah Mott dreamed of becoming foster parents and say being turned down is political correctness gone mad. The couple, of London Road, Ch

A COUPLE claim that a passing remark about "white foreigners" caused them to be rejected as foster parents.

David and Sarah Mott dreamed of becoming foster parents and say being turned down is political correctness gone mad.

The couple, of London Road, Chatteris, were on their way to a course on fostering when they were held up because of an accident.

When they arrived, Mr Mott, 43, mentioned the accident involved "a car driven by white foreigners". It is that remark which the couple believe have cost them the chance to foster.

Mr Mott said: "What's wrong with it? They are white and they are foreigners. I don't have anything against anyone in this country. I think it is political correctness gone mad."

The couple, who have three children of their own, including a disabled son, were astounded to be turned down by Peterborough Social Services.

When they received a phone call from a social worker to say they had been rejected they could not believe it.

Mr Mott said: "She said I had made a derogatory remarks about asylum seekers and that it would have been inappropriate if I had said it in front of children."

Mrs Mott said: "I thought they were joking and was waiting for the punchline. They have made us feel that we are bad people and we are not."

Mr Mott, a self-employed fishing tackle restorer, said: "I was absolutely gutted, it seems such a petty little thing."

Peterborough City Council, however, says the idea the couple were turned down because of political correctness was "silly, foolish and unfounded".

A council spokesman said the couple had been offered the chance for their case to be reviewed by someone outside the city's fostering department.