Police are increasingly concerned for the safety of four children abducted by their parents from the care of social services may be sleeping rough.

Tara Richards, 35, and Steven Hayward, 33, took the youngsters from social services staff during an arranged contact meeting at the social services office in Wem, Shropshire, on Saturday afternoon.

They were spotted in a white Peugeot 205 car, registration E512 FLE, on Saturday afternoon trying to pay for petrol at a garage in Whitchurch Road, Shrewsbury, with euros.

The abducted children are 12-year-old Tara Richards, her three brothers Tadhg, who is eight, Charlie, four, and Sid, three.

Extreme cold

Detective Inspector Charlie Hill, from West Mercia Police, who is co-ordinating the search, said officers were very anxious to establish contact with their parents.

"It is now five days since the children were taken and as time goes on, we are becoming increasingly concerned."

Mr Hill added: "It is extremely cold here and the wind is blowing and this family don't have the means to support proper hotel accommodation.

"My fear is they may be living rough and suffering the effects of the cold."

He said he was keeping an open mind about where they could be.

"We are trying to contact a Tori Richards who claims to be the sister-in-law of Mrs Richards, but every time we call her we get an answer machine," he said.

The family used to live in Monkmoor, Shrewsbury

"We would urge her to contact us."

All four children were under the care of social services and had been seeing their parents at supervised meetings on a weekly basis.

They were taken just before 1400 GMT.

The family used to live in Bridgeford Way, in Monkmoor, Shrewsbury

As a mother, she loved her kids Family friend Jackie Evans

An internal inquiry has been launched by Shropshire County Council's social services department.

A friend described Ms Richards as a good mother.

Jackie Evans said: "As a mother, she loved her kids.

"She just wanted to be with them. It would tear any mother apart being separated from her kids."

Arm tattoos

Mr Hayward is described as being about 5ft 8in tall, of slim build with green eyes.

He has several tattoos including a bird of paradise and the word "Steve" on his left arm and the words "Dagger, born to lose" on his right arm.

He speaks with a Midlands accent.

Mrs Richards is 5ft 2in tall and of very slim build with blue eyes, shoulder-length light brown, straight hair and has a scruffy appearance.