POLICE hunting a woman who abducted her two young children from local authority care in Wales believe she may be heading for Burnley.

Kelly Marie Roberts, 25, abducted Luke, four, and Shannon, three, while she was on a supervised visit.

She took the youngsters in Carmarthen at 1.50pm on Thursday, despite the fact she was being monitored by a care worker.

Kelly, who has connections in the Burnley area, lives in the village of Drefach Velindre near the market town of Llandysul in mid-Wales.

The courts decided in June that her children need to be looked after by the local authority and police want them reunited with their carers immediately. Kelly is white, 5ft 7in tall, of medium to slim build, and has fair hair. She talks with a slight Birmingham accent. Luke was wearing football shorts when he went missing.

Detective Inspector Phil Davies, of Carmarthen Police, said: "At the moment we are still trying to find the three of them and we have been making extensive inquiries. The children were in good health when they were taken and the sooner we find them the better."

Police have been in touch with family members who have not seen either Kelly or her children since they went missing and now detectives are appealing for help.

Mr Davies said: "It is not known what mode of transport Mrs Roberts has at the moment and we believe she may be using the public transport system."

Both the children had been living with foster parents in Carmarthen.

An incident room has been set up at Carmarthen Police Station and anybody with information should call 01267 239114.

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