A major police search is under way for four Shropshire children abducted from social services care by their parents.

The couple from Shrewsbury took the youngsters from social services staff during an arranged contact meeting at social services office in Wem High Street on Saturday afternoon.

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

Sharon Richards, 35, and Steven Hayward, 33, took the children just before 1400 GMT.

Port alert

Shrewsbury Police are appealing for anyone with information on their whereabouts to come forward.

The children were taken from Wem High Street

They say the children have been in care for some time and although they are with their parents, they are treating the matter as an abduction.

Detectives believe the family may still be in Shropshire or may have fled to Ireland where Mrs Richards has relatives.

They have alerted air and sea ports.

A police spokesman said: "All four children are under the care of social services and have been seeing their parents at supervised meetings on a weekly basis.

"On Saturday afternoon, the parents were late arriving for the one hour meeting.

"Just as the children were about to leave to return to their carers, the mother arrived saying a late train had delayed her.

"Mr Richards arrived a few minutes later and it was agreed they should have a 10 minute meeting with the children."

Irish accents

He added a short time later, the family left the building and drove off in a small white car, believed to be a Vauxhall Nova or Peugeot.

An inquiry has now been launched by social services to find out what happened.

Terry Jones, from Shropshire Social Services, said: "The children have been in our care for just over 12 months.

"We do have concerns for their health and welfare and want to find them as quickly as we can so we can return them to their carers and continue with court proceedings."

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.

All four children speak with an Irish accent.