Two people were hauled off a plane by police after abandoning children they were looking after.
The uncle and grandmother left girls aged 11 and 12 at Stansted Airport car park on Monday afternoon because the youngsters' passports were due to expire.
After police were alerted by the children's mother's friend, they stopped the flight and arrested the adults.
Essex Police said the four were due to fly to Corfu after travelling from their home town, Goole, Yorkshire.
When the flight was stopped, the 61-year-old grandmother and the 36-year-old uncle were arrested on suspicion of child cruelty and later released after being cautioned.
An Essex Police spokesman said: "This is an example of how not to be a good guardian. I don't know what was going through the minds of this grandmother and uncle."
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Wednesday, September 1, 2004
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