Missing Lincolnshire twins may be 'out of country'

Vixen and Billy Francis were last seen in Skegness

An alcoholic mother who snatched her four-year-old twins from social workers in Lincolnshire might have fled the country, a family court judge has said.

Tamara Dyson, 37, snatched the twins, Vixen Rae and Billy Blu Francis, for the second time in a week, the judge sitting at Lincoln County Court said.

The children were taken from Roseberry Avenue Contact Centre in Skegness on Thursday and have not been seen since.

They may be in the Republic of Ireland, Judge Heather Swindells said.

Earlier, three people were arrested after the four-year-old twins went missing with their mother.

It's the view of the court that the children are at serious risk of harm Judge Heather Swindells

Judge Swindells said: "Both Vixen and Billy were in foster care because of concerns about Tamara Dyson's ability to look after them, particularly as she has a chronic and dangerous alcohol problem.

"This is the second time in a week Tamara Dyson has removed the children from contact.

"It's the view of the court that the children are at serious risk of harm.

"Despite the best efforts of the police since Thursday the children have still not been found and there are concerns that Tamara and the children are no longer in the country."

Because of concerns about the children, Judge Swindells took the unusual step of issuing an order under the Children Act 1989 allowing the care proceedings in the case to be reported.

Such proceedings cannot normally be reported.

Father 'livid'

Lincolnshire Police said the children were taken by their mother Tamara Dyson from the property on 19 May.

The children's natural father, 31-year-old Billy Francis, an electrician from Greenwich, London, pleaded for the public's help to find the youngsters.

"I last saw them on the morning of 20 May and I was shocked to be told later that afternoon that they had been taken by their mother.

"I am livid that this has happened with social services while under their care and responsibility."

Mr Francis said he met Ms Dyson 10 years ago and in 2006 they had the twins. They split two years later and Mr Francis blames her addiction to alcohol for the break-up.

He said: "Tamara is just not stable at the moment. She is drinking heavily and I am worried to death.

The kids are my life. I love them to death, I can't describe it any other way. I just haven't got a clue where they have gone."