A mother who has been separated from her son for seven years has vowed to take her fight for visits to an international court.

Clair Walters, 37, of Woodford Court, Upshire, has seen her son Donovan, nine, only a few times since he was sent to live with his father in Belgium aged two by social services.

Her last contact with him was a rushed half-hour after a court hearing in the country.

The mother-of-two, who lives with Donovan’s half-sister Morgan, 11, said: “It’s very hard for me and I get frustrated because it’s my kids – the sibling bond is the strongest bond one will have.

“That’s been ripped away from my two children.”

Donovan was first separated from his mother by social services in March 2006, after Ms Walters contacted social services herself with concerns about whether she could look after her children.

He was sent to live with his father and his father's partner, who live in Belgium, after a court order was made.

Morgan was sent to live with her uncle and aunt later that year, but social services allowed her to move back in with her mother four years ago.

A court order states that Donovan should see his mother and half sister once a moth and should speak to them via Skype every week.

But Ms Walters said this had not happened and her son could not speak English, making communication even harder.

She has just lost a court battle in Belgium, where she was fighting for contact, but was told she would have to travel there if she wanted to see her son.

She said: “The court has about four months’ worth of bank statements where, according to my solicitor, I’m left with about 60 Euros a month to play around with.

“It’s not enough to travel to Belgium with my daughter.

“I have letters from my MP, Eleanor Laing, saying she can’t help me and Families Reunited tried to help, but there’s nothing anyone can do.

“My next step is to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.”