When Laura Todhunter’s baby nieces were taken into care, she left her job rather than have them sent to strangers.

Laura, 33, from Workington, was a single mother with one daughter, Faith, 7.

She was doing fine, working as head housekeeper for a care home and enjoying life with Faith.

For reasons the family did not want to discuss, however, baby Georgia was taken away by Social Services.

Laura fought for six months to obtain ‘Special Guardianship’ of the baby and when she was then told that she would be unable to take time off work, she walked out of her job.

“Family comes first. I did not want this little girl being sent somewhere down country where we would never see her again.”

A second baby, Ella, was also removed and the fight began again.

“This time, because I already had Georgia, it only took three months to obtain custody.

“Neither of the children remembers their mother. I am mam to them. Sometime in the future, I might have to explain that I am their aunt as well as their mother but that will come later.”

She said as far as she is concerned, these children will be hers for the rest of their lives.

“I might look at adoption one day but it doesn’t really matter. I am their mother and Faith is their sister.”

She said her own daughter has accepted the babies completely.

“ She is such a help. Georgia is just two and Ella is one. There is only 13 months between them so life can get hectic.

“Faith is great at amusing one while I bath the other and so on. She is a fantastic big sister.”

Bringing up three children in this cost of living crisis is not easy.

“I manage because I have to. My priority is making sure the children are fed and warm. I budget for everything because you have to nowadays. It can be difficult but there is no use in moaning. You just have to get on with it. I manage.”

She said she does get help from family: “They will sometimes sit for me while I get a break – maybe a night out with the girls.

“And sometimes, with children this age, you need a break!”

Laura said she has been warned that the children could have some health or psychological problems later but that is just one more thing that does not faze her.

“They are developing well at the moment. They are normal and happy. If that changes it is just something else to deal with. These are my children now and they are staying with me!”