A Romford mother has been charged in connection with the disappearance of her two children from a care centre.

Jamie-Leigh Kelly, 31, of Braithwaite Avenue, was charged with assault and two counts of taking a child in care without lawful authority.

She appeared at Barkingside Magistrates' Court today (September 26).

Her two children had been reported missing from a family assessment centre in Colindale, north London, on September 19.

A Met Police spokesperson said the two kids were found on Sunday (September 24) and taken into police protection and to a hospital as a precaution.

Kelly was further remanded to appear on October 9 at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

The assault charge relates to an incident on September 19 where a woman is alleged to have been attacked, police said.

A man, 20, was also arrested on suspicion of child abduction today and remains in custody.

Ashley Hawkins, 52, of Alex Guy Gardens in Dagenham, and Jordan Hardy, 30 of Connor Road in the same town, appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court yesterday (September 25) charged with two counts of child abduction.

Both have also been remanded to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on October 9.

A woman, 63, arrested at an Essex address on Sunday on suspicion of child abduction, assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice, has been bailed to a December date pending further enquiries.