RENA Salmon's mother was outraged at being called a prostitute and racist by her daughter.

The frail pensioner, who walks with a stick, contacted police to make a statement after reading reports of the trial.

She travelled to the Old Bailey from her home in Thirlmere Avenue, Burnley, to give evidence -- but left in tears when the judge would not allow it.

Matilda Roberts wanted to tell the jury she had never been a prostitute -- she had been married to an Asian man named Uddin who had fathered all her children.

Salmon had been a very difficult child who had scrubbed herself with a bleaching agent because she wanted to be white, she said.

The jury was never told the mother was even in the building.

Judge Neil Denison said that if the prosecution was allowed to bring new evidence on a point which was not a central issue it could cause delays, and possibly lead to the jury having to be discharged.

An obviously disappointed Mrs Roberts was led away from the outside of the court wiping her eyes.

The tiny figure made slow progress with her walking stick through the marble-lined hall.

A friend with her said she wanted to return to her family.

She added: "She is not very well.

"She wants to get back to her family."

Earlier in the trial, Rena Salmon had wept as she told the court of a tragic childhood in which she claimed she was beaten and scrubbed with bleach by her mother.