In a heartrending open letter, Jeff and Jennifer Bramley reveal the desperation that drove them to take their foster children and run.

It is an eloquent and moving story, told with care but underscored by anger.

The Bramleys are angry that it came to this. They clearly believe they were left with no option but to take Jade and Hannah and disappear into hiding.

Jade and Hannah were told Mr and Mrs Bramley were to be their "forever mummy and daddy", the couple write.

For the first time in their short lives, the youngsters had security. They were in a proper home with two parents who loved them. Even Jade and Hannah's natural mother today said the couple should adopt her children.

According to the Bramleys' letter, subsequent criticism of their behaviour by social services came out of the blue. With "flagrant disregard" for the happiness of Jade and Hannah, the decision was taken to remove the children from their care.

Mr and Mrs Bramley then describe the legal nightmare of trying to challenge this ruling.

This is only one side of the story, of course. Bound by client confidentiality, Cambridgeshire social services cannot respond in detail, although they have confirmed that the Bramleys were not abusing the children.

Nevertheless, the case does raise important questions about the accountability of social services. Prospective parents seem to have little redress when a decision like this is made. Children have no voice at all.

The Bramleys claim their social worker criticised them for being overly safety conscious by saying "no" and "don't" too often to the girls. And they say they were told not to sit with Jade and Hannah until they fell asleep.

These are peculiar reprimands. Most parents will have done exactly the same with their children at some stage.

Parenting is an inexact science. Everyone makes mistakes. The Bramleys had the additional difficulty of being presented with two children aged three and five, denying them the chance to develop their parenting skills gradually.

The compensation for this inexperience was substantial. Mr and Mrs Bramley, married for ten years, offered stability and love.

Now that stability has been shattered. Instead of starting school, Hannah is on the run with her family.

Social services must work to secure a reasoned and dignified end to this mess. They should assure the Bramleys that, if they come forward, they can keep the children at least until an independent expert has assessed both sides of the story - and heard the children's point of view. The couple should not be treated as criminals for loving Jade and Hannah.

see NEWS 'Runaways' letter plea'

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