A DRUNKEN woman dragged her children to the shop in T-shirts on a freezing cold night so she could buy booze.

Blackburn magistrates heard staff at the Spar shop on New Chapel Street called the police, who described the children as extremely cold and crying.

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One of the youngsters told officers they were wearing slippers because their mother was unable to tie their laces.

Claire Louise Hogg, 39, of Stansfeld Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to two charges of child neglect.

She was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, made subject to community supervision for 18 months and ordered to pay £280 costs.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Hogg became aggressive when police said they were concerned for the children.

Miss Allan added: “It was a very cold night and there was a torrential hail storm.”

Aftab Bakhat, defending, said his client had issues.

He added: “On this occasion she had been drinking to the extent she lost control.”