Mother loses fight to keep baby

The child, known only as G, was removed by social workers from his mother just two hours after his birth on Wednesday - but then returned after a High Court ruling.

At Nottingham County Court, District Judge Richard Inglis said: "The removal by court order of a child from the care of his mother soon after birth is a very grave step to take and is to be taken only when the welfare of the child makes it necessary."

The judge continued: "In this case the court has decided that the welfare of G requires that he lives in local authority foster care on an interim basis while further inquiries are made and assessments carried out.

"His mother will have frequent periods of contact with him each week."

The judge added: "When the further inquiries have been made, the court expects to be in a better position later this year to make a decision about who should care for G and what part his mother and other members of his family should play in his future care."

The child was removed without the mother's consent after hospital staff were shown a "birth plan" prepared by social workers from Nottingham City Council.

The plan said the mother, who had a troubled childhood and suffers from mental health problems, was to be separated from the child, and no contact allowed without supervision by social workers.

But a High Court hearing on Wednesday heard that "on the face of it" social services had acted unlawfully because they had not obtained a court order. Mr Justice Munby ruled that the baby be immediately returned to his mother.

The pair, who cannot be named because of reporting restrictions, were reunited 46 minutes after Mr Justice Munby's order was made. The council subsequently began making its application for an interim care order, which was heard during a private hearing.