Snatched sisters are found safe

Two sisters who were snatched at knifepoint by their mother have been found safe and well.

Salina Hafeez, five, and Sarah, three, who were taken into care 18 months ago, were bundled into a car on Wednesday.

Their foster mother was threatened with a knife.

A nationwide hunt for the girls ended at around midnight as officers searched a number of addresses in Middlesbrough. Three women and four men are being held for questioning. The two girls are now in the care of social services, Cleveland police said.

Seven people have been arrested in connection with the abduction. The girls' mother, Shanaz Hafeez, 29, was said to be in a "depressed" state. A Cleveland pol ice spokesman said today said: "The children were found safe and well at one of the addresses that were searched. They did not need any medical treatment. They were fit and well."

As the search went on, the girls' foster mother said: "Every time I close my eyes I can see them looking back at me from the car and screaming."