A YOUNG man left in charge of three young children when their mother jetted off on holiday last night insisted they had been well cared for.

Dan Lowe, 20, and his 15-year-old sister, Kayleigh, also spoke of the "horrible" moment when social services took the children - aged four, two and 11 months - into care following complaints by concerned neighbours.

Kayleigh said: "We only had them for two days, they were absolutely fine.

"It was horrible when they were trying to take them away.

"The babies were screaming and I was crying. I was really shaken up about it, but I have calmed down a bit now.

"The babies were fine, there was no problem."

Kelly Ann Piggford, also known as Rogerson, left her children while she enjoyed a sunshine break in Turkey with a friend.

Neighbours alerted police and social services, who visited a house on Darlington's Red Hall estate on Tuesday and immediately took the two sisters and brother into care.

They are now being looked after by relatives and are waiting for their mother to return home.

The children were discovered in the care of Kayleigh at the home of Miss Piggford's holiday companion, Lisa Riding, in Bramall Lane, Red Hall.

Initially, it was believed the teenager had been in sole charge of the children, but yesterday Dan said he had been looking after them.

He said: "I am a good friend of Kelly and godfather to all three children.

"I was looking after them while she was away. My sister is only 15, but she was only looking after them for the day.

"The kids were fine, they were well fed and clothed, but there was nothing we could do when they came to take them away.

"They were upset and clinging to me around the neck, they were crying.

"There was no reason for them to be taken away.

"I have spoken to Kelly, she is fine, but she is upset."

Initially it was believed that Miss Piggford, 24, would be returning home this weekend, but last night friends said she could be away for much longer.

Some said she had spoken of plans to one day live abroad permanently.

Miss Piggford had just returned from a two-week break in Marmaris, Turkey, with Miss Riding, 20, before the pair decided to return to the holiday island this week.

A neighbour said: "She has only just come back from Turkey. She was there for two weeks with Lisa.

"The kids were with their dad while she was away. They were only back for four days and then they went back off to Turkey."

Last night, Miss Riding's father, Dave, of Mallory Court, Darlington, refused to speak about the incident.

The children live with their mother, in Kempton Court, on the Red Hall estate.

Ms Piggford is separated from her partner.

A neighbour of Miss Riding, who lives alone and also has a young son, said: "Lisa's well known around the estate, she's nice.

"Her son is a nice little kid. I knew she was away, but didn't know about anything else."

A 23-year-old friend of Miss Riding, who was in the house when the children were taken away, said: "We know they have met lads over there, but I don't think it is anything serious. It is just a holiday fling.

"I have spoken to Kelly by phone. She is so upset and fuming about the children going into care."