Cambridgeshire Social Services has said it is concerned for the emotional well-being of two British children who they believe have been taken to Ireland by their foster-parents.
Unofficial sightings of Mr Jeffrey Bramley (35) and his wife, Jennifer (35), and the two children, Jade Bennett (5) and her sister, Hannah (3), this week have placed the family in Dundalk, Co Louth, Portlaoise, Co Laois, and in Tralee, Co Kerry, and add to the 30 sightings in total since the family disappeared from their home in Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, on September 14th.
The Bramleys, who have been fostering the children since March, were due to hand them back to Cambridgeshire Social Services on September 14th but when they failed to turn up for a meeting, social workers visited their home and found the house empty and alerted the police.
A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Social Services described the Bramleys as a "co-operative" couple who had "never been any problem ". It is understood that the decision to ask the Bramleys to return the children was not a reflection on their skills as first-time fosterparents, but it was felt that a more appropriate environment could be found elsewhere.
However, the authorities were worried for the children's emotional stability and security since they had been taken away by the Bramleys because their background had been "very disruptive so far ". The spokesman said the children, who were placed in foster care by their natural mother, should be returned to Britain.
Appealing for the Bramleys to bring the children home, the spokesman said: "Any sense of stability and security beginning to develop has been disrupted again by the Bramleys. Emotionally there must be some concern for their welfare." The children's natural mother has been informed of their disappearance and is helping the police and social services with their inquiries.
In the two to three weeks after their disappearance there were up to 16 sightings of the family in Norfolk, but Cambridgeshire Police has said it cannot record any sightings as official unless the Bramleys are seen by police in Britain or in Ireland. PC Pete Morley, of Cambridgeshire Police, said there had been several very good descriptions of the Bramleys since they disappeared and police were still searching for the family's blue Honda car.
One indicator of their decision to travel to Ireland may be a comment by Mr Bramley to a family member before their disappearance. It has been revealed that Mr Bramley discussed the merits of living in Ireland and also inquired whether a passport was required to travel to Ireland.
"Our concern is for the children. It can seem like an adventure for them for one or two weeks, but now they must be missing their toys and their friends and missing the home environment. Jade celebrated her fifth birthday on Sunday. The anguish is for the children, but I can't say what state of mind the Bramleys are in," PC Morley added.
The police have not ruled out the possibility that the Bramleys have changed their appearance or their car since being seen in Ireland and they have not ruled out the possibility that someone is harbouring them in Ireland.