SOCIAL services staff in Bury have told a young mother that she cannot spend Christmas with her young child.

The woman has supervised contact with the youngster for only three hours a week under a full care order given by the High Court. Social services say they are bound by the care order.

Now Mrs X - she and the child cannot be identified for legal reasons - is desperately hoping to persuade officials to change their mind.

"I know my child wants to be at home but is not being given the chance to spend Christmas with the family."

The child was taken into care after Mrs X and her husband split up.

Unemployed, Mrs X has three hours of supervised contact each week. But in a plea to social services she has asked to spend time alone with her child over the festive period. She said: "This child is mine and would want to be at home with me. I will fight for custody when the time comes.

"Surely one or two overnight stops a week isn't too much to ask at Christmas."

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