Two British children 'living alone on junk food' since parents were jailed in Turkey over counterfeit cash claims

Steven and Mandy Bonnington were remanded in custody on Tuesday after their arrest for the possession of, and attempting to pass on, bogus currency.

The couple were in Altinkum, on the Aegean coast, with children Connor, 11, and Natasha, 15, when they were detained.

Steven and Mandy Bonnington were arrested in Turkey over claims they were carrying forged bank notes

Held in separate prisons, they are expected to appear at court again next week, on a date unknown.

But relatives in England were today critical of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, claiming consular staff had failed to visit Connor and Natasha since Tuesday to check on their welfare.

The Government department would not confirm whether staff had paid a visit, but said it had made sure they were looked after.

An employee at the holiday complex where the Bonningtons have bought a home "popped in" on Tuesday and Wednesday to check on the children, said Angela Needham, one of Mrs Bonnington's four sisters.

However, relatives say the distraught siblings have been left without proper supervision despite Foreign Office reassurances.

An aunt and uncle arrived at the resort yesterday after flying out to look after the children.

Ms Needham, 42, said: "The rubbish the Consulate have given us is ludicrous. No-one has been near those children. They have lived off crisps, chocolate and pop since Tuesday, when they last saw Mandy.

"They have been on their own at night, locking the door. A holiday friend they met last year has gone to check on them, but they are not in the same building.

"It's absolutely disgusting. We didn't know this until (sister) Sue got there this morning. Our Tash broke down in Sue's arms and Connor has been in bits.

"We have heard that the Consulate was bringing them home on Saturday but nobody knows anything about that. I have not had one phone call from the Consulate."

The couple are said to have had £1,000 in bogus cash

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: "We wouldn't leave children on their own. We are providing the family with consular assistance. The children are safe and have been looked after."

Asked whether consular staff had visited the children, she said: "We won't go into detail. It's not the right thing to get drawn into."

The couple's family said yesterday that they believed the pair were "100% innocent" of the allegations.

Ms Needham said bakery worker Mr Bonnington, 40, may have unknowingly come into possession of fake cash after making a sale over the internet.

She said: "He buys and sells things on eBay. He put money into a holiday fund and he's not thought to check it. He's gone out with £3,000 to furnish the apartment."

Mr Bonnington has reportedly been remanded in custody at Soke Prison, about one hour's drive from Altinkum.

Mrs Bonnington, 38, was in Aydin Women's Prison, about two hours from their apartment.

It is reported that the couple, from Nottingham, have not been formally charged, but were being investigated by police for possession of about £1,000 in fake £20 notes.

They were reportedly held after trying to cash £100 at a bureau de change in Altinkum.

A public prosecutor ordered their detention in state prisons for "several more days".