A MOTHER who went on holiday to Turkey and left her three children at home was arrested on suspicion of neglect when she arrived back in the North-East yesterday.

Kelly Ann Piggford, 23, was met by police after her plane landed at Durham Tees Valley Airport.

She was ushered out through a side exit and taken to Darlington police station for questioning at about 5am, before being released on bail shortly before 11am.

The children - Shauna, aged four, Stevie, two, and 11-month-old Michael - were taken into care by the local authority two weeks ago, and are staying with their father and grandmother in Darlington.

Last night, Miss Piggford, also known as Miss Rogerson, said she left the children in the care of 20-year-old Dan Lowe, who is their godfather.

It had been reported that a 15-year-old babysitter gave police a statement in which she said she was left in sole charge of the children. She was also said to have been unpaid.

Yesterday, Miss Piggford returned to her home on the Red Hall estate, in Darlington, in a taxi - without the children.

She remained locked in her house for most of the day with friends, who said she was distraught.

Holiday companion Lisa Riding, 20, emerged from the house hiding her face under a Burberry-style sun hat and blue hooded raincoat.

She said: "Kelly is very upset. No one has heard her side of the story.

"She didn't abandon her children, or neglect them.

"She loves her children and is going to get them back tomorrow."

Miss Riding admitted it was a shock to find police, photographers and journalists waiting for them at the airport, but said they had also been pursued by the Press in Turkey.

Last night, Darlington Borough Council's social services would not comment on whether Miss Piggford would be able to see her children, or get them back, in the next few days.

Miss Piggford spoke to UK magazine Closer - for an undisclosed sum - during her two-week stay at the Marmaris resort, to put her side of the story.

Pictured smiling and flirting with waiters in a bar, Miss Piggford told the magazine: "I have been selfish, but I needed to get away. I needed a holiday.

"And, to be honest, I've hardly gone out since I have been here.

"I have been too upset by the lies everyone's been saying about me.

"People can judge me and think I'm a terrible mum for what I did, but no one knows what I went through."

Miss Piggford has been bailed to return to the police station next month.

Durham Police said: "At 4.45am, officers arrested a 23-year-old Darlington woman on suspicion of neglect after she landed at Durham Tees Valley Airport on a flight from Turkey.

"The woman was taken to Darlington police station and interviewed by detectives from the vulnerability unit, who have been investigating this case alongside colleagues from social services.

"She has now been released on police bail while inquiries continue."

Darlington council said: "We had the opportunity to talk to her. The children's welfare will continue to be our main priority."

Miss Piggford had only recently returned from a two-week break in Marmaris with Miss Riding when the pair decided to return to the Turkish resort a fortnight ago.