Woman charged with child neglect

Kelly Ann Piggford has been charged with child neglect

Police say a 24-year-old County Durham woman, who went on holiday and left her three children at home, has been charged with child neglect.

Kelly Ann Piggford, 24, also known as Rogerson, will face magistrates in August, after allegedly leaving her children with friends.

Neighbours claimed the children - girls aged four and two and an 11-month-old boy - had been left with a babysitter.

Miss Piggford, from Darlington, was arrested by police when she flew home.

Officers were waiting to talk to Miss Piggford when her plane landed at Durham Tees Valley Airport from Turkey last month.

A Durham Police spokesman said in a statement on Friday: "A 24-year-old woman from Darlington has been charged with three offences of child neglect.

"She has been released on police bail and is due to appear before Darlington Magistrates' Court on 2 August."