LOUISE Ann Scott was caught in a vicious circle as she tried to get increased access to her children who had been placed in foster care.

Blackburn magistrates heard that she had kicked a heroin habit which had encouraged social services to say she could have greater access.

But she had no money to improve the three-bedroomed house she secured and, after being refused a hardship loan, turned to prostitution.

And the court was told her conviction for that offence would take her back to square one in her bid to be reunited with her children.

Scott, 28, of Rothesay Road, Blackburn, was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £30 costs after admittering loitering for the purpose of prostitution.

Basharat Ditta, defending, said Scott had turned to drugs after the breakdown of her marriage in which there had been considerable physical and psychological abuse. She had gone through rehabilitation in 1998 and was now "keen and eager" to have greater access to her children.

"She went to a case conference where increased access was agreed," said Mr Ditta. "She got a three-bedroomed house, hoping to have the children to stay, but could not get any further help. That is when she committed this offence.

"She will now have to persuade the authorities that this kind of behaviour will not continue if she is to get her children back."