A MOTHER who went on holiday leaving her three young children at home says it was the biggest mistake she has ever made.

Kelly Ann Piggford said: "I will never leave my babies alone again. Seeing them has made me feel so guilty, but I promise I will make it up to them and I will always be there in future."

The 23-year-old was arrested by police on suspicion of child neglect as she arrived back in the UK from a fortnight in Turkey.

Social services took her children, aged four, two and 11 months, into care after they received a tip-off that they had been left with a 15-year-old babysitter.

However, Miss Piggford, 23, insisted she left the children in the care of 20-year-old Dan Lowe, their godfather.

She has been bailed until later this month.

Miss Piggford was paid an undisclosed amount of money to tell her story to a UK magazine, and in a new article, she said that since her return last week, she has experienced a backlash from neighbours on the Red Hall estate, in Darlington.

She told Closer magazine that neighbours had said she should not be allowed to have children.

She said: "When I said I was going to go to Asda to do the shopping, Shauna started crying and begged me not to leave her.

"She only calmed down when I promised to take her with me. She thinks I am going to leave her again."

The single mother could lose custody of Shauna, four, Stevie Ann, two, and Michael, 11 months, and may even go to prison should police press charges for neglect.

After they were taken into care, the children were placed with their father, Mel Jenkinson, who lives in the Haughton area of Darlington.

They were returned the day after Miss Piggford was released by police.

She said: "It was the best moment of my life. When the car pulled up, I ran out to them. They were besides themselves, screaming out 'Mummy, Mummy'.

"I gathered them in my arms and wept. I was so relieved."