A PARALYSED Steeton woman who could have her baby taken away at birth is blaming red tape for her anguish.

Penny Roberts, 35, is confined to a wheelchair after falling on to a concrete runway in a parachuting accident in 1995.

She is looked after by a carer at a cost of £500 a week, but Bradford Council says that figure would double after her child is born.

The council is considering whether to apply for a court order to take the former nurse's baby from her, saying it may be better looked after by a foster family.

This week Miss Roberts told the Herald the row over her unborn child was all down to a matter of red tape and money.

"My carer is paid for by adult social services and a carer for the child would be paid for by child social services, and never the twain shall meet," she said.

"Social services said it would have to employ three or four different carers and there would be too many people in the house. All I'm asking for is a bit of common sense."

Miss Roberts became pregnant in January by her fianc, who has since left her. She believed that her injuries made it impossible to conceive.

She has been granted unlimited legal aid to fight her case in the courts if she has to. Meanwhile she must await the results of an expert report into how her condition will effect her unborn baby.

Bradford Council's assistant director Mike Stow issued a statement this week, saying nothing would be decided until a detailed assessment had been carried out.

"In line with our statutory responsibilities, we have to consider the needs of the child," he said.

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