A SUPPORT group for parents whose children have been abducted today said love-tug cases like the one involving East Lancashire mum Josephine Bromley were "a nightmare."

Its director said the only way to win them back would be through the foreign courts, which would prove very difficult.

For the past eight months Josephine has been fighting to get her daughters back after they were snatched by their father and taken to his native Jordan during an access visit.

Jehad Al-Momani, who lived in Station Road, Great Harwood, took Salam, 11, and Noor, seven, during the school summer holidays. He had led Josephine, from whom he is estranged, to believe he was taking them to Alton Towers.

Since then Josephine, of Lower Darwen, has learned the girls are now in Saudi Arabia where Jehad works as a teacher.

But because many Arab states, including Jordan and Saudi Arabia, do not recognise British law and are not signed up to the Hague Convention on family rights and child custody, she has been unable to get them back.

Reunite International Child Abduction Centre, based in London, has been offering advice and support to Josephine. Its director, Denise Carter, said pursuing the case in the Saudi Arabia courts was an option -- but not a very viable one.

She said: "It is very difficult for foreign mothers because of the legal and cultural differences and also it is very expensive."

Through the group Josephine was put in touch with Sarra Fotheringham, from Surrey, who on Monday was arrested and thrown into a Dubai jail when she attempted to grab back her 10-year-old son Tariq from his millionaire father. Josephine, who has spoken to Sarra many times before her arrest, said it was terrible.

Denise Carter said it typified the difficulties faced by British mothers trying to get their children back from Arab states.

She said: "Unfortunately there is no international convention between Britain and Saudi Arabia. Therefore the parents left behind feel very isolated. That is why Reunite was set up to help people through such difficult situations."

Josephine, who lives with partner Paul Tomlinson and eldest daughter Emma, said she has felt alone in her battle to see her children again. It has been six months she spoke to them and she is not sure exactly where they are in Saudi Arabia.

The Foreign Office admitted it had not seen the girls since they left Jordan although it was arranging a welfare visit.

A spokesman said there was no reason to believe the girls were not in Saudi Arabia and stressed the department was doing all it could.

Blackburn MP and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw is looking into the case. He said: "The Foreign Office is doing all it can in this complex and difficult matter."