A young mother has told of her heartbreak at losing her fourth child in a row to Bexley social services in south-east London.

Michelle (not her real name) claims she is being punished for her past mistakes.

Now aged 20, she fears she may never be able to have a family life and that all her future children will also be taken into care.

She had her first child aged 13.

Months later she was taken into foster care herself, and her child was put up for adoption.

She had a second child at 16, by the same father.

Initially, when she was visited by police and social workers in hospital, she was told the baby would go into care.

But she was allowed to keep the baby after agreeing to a mother and baby placement.

When she left the placement after 17 days, the baby was taken from her.

She says: "I didn't understand the terms of the court order at the time."

Her third baby was taken from her in hospital after being born.

Michelle explained: "I had even given a different name to the hospital, I was so scared they were going to take my child away. But they found me.

"The reasons they gave me were down to my history, running away from foster care and what they called my chaotic lifestyle'."

Michelle moved to another borough to give birth to her fourth child earlier this year, in a bid to "escape" from Bexley's social services.

She said: "But they followed me there.

"Towards the end of the pregnancy I spoke to a social worker who told me she would fight my corner to help me keep this child."

She says social services are concerned her partner, who has fathered all her children, abuses alcohol.

She added: "But, he is now waiting to go into a rehabilitation programme."

After her baby was born three months ago, she was found a mother and baby placement.

But after a police investigation into internet sites accessed by someone else living there, she was moved to another placement.

Michelle says she was unhappy with this one.

She said: "It was filthy, with mice, and there was a dog which kept trying to get into my baby's face.

"I asked to be moved. Even my guardian complained, saying it should not have been approved. But I heard nothing back."

After a week, she left and went to stay with a friend where, within days, she was found by the authorities.

The baby was taken into care and social services have now begun adoption proceedings.

Now Michelle is only allowed to see the child for an hour, three times a week.

She suffers from depression and panic attacks and stays in bed when she is not seeing her baby.

Michelle said: "I have been told all the way through there is nothing wrong with my parenting."

And she admits: "They were justified in taking my other children away. I cannot deny that.

"But this time I have done everything they asked me to.

"I made one mistake, by taking my child out of a dirty place, and they have taken my baby away."

She claims: "After I left, they said I would have had a new placement by Monday. But I don't believe it."

Michelle said: "When the police found me, they said my baby was happy and very well looked after "They even had to ask for one of my T-shirts to comfort the baby because it would not stop crying."

She declared: "If they go through with the adoption of this baby, it will be pointless for me to have any more children.

"I have been told all my babies will be removed at birth.

"Because I never had a chance to be around my other children, I didn't really have a chance to bond with them.

"But I felt like a mum this time. I cannot explain what it means to me to get my child back."

Michelle has now separated from her partner and lives in a rented flat.

She sees her newest child every week and writes to her other three children twice a year.

A Bexley Council spokesman said: "Bexley Council cannot comment on specific cases and this case is in the court arena.

"The mother is legally represented in the proceedings.

"The child is also represented by a guardian and solicitor.

"Representations from and the concerns of all parties will be considered by the court before making a final determination.

"The child will only have been removed from the mother's care after due consideration by the court and pursuant to a court order."