Four African children were found by a stranger and taken to Haringey council

A family court judge heard that the children, aged between four and 13, had no belongings except for a note saying, “please help these kids find their sister ...”

The children said that they had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo. They had no identification with them.

Judge Rachel Karp said that the children had been brought to the council offices by an “apparent stranger” who said he had found them on a street.

She said the children denied knowing the man.

A social worker said the youngsters seemed distressed and frightened - and appeared to have been “coached” in explanations about how they arrived.

Judge Karp, who analysed the case at a family court hearing in London, said Haringey Council had commenced care proceedings in relation to all four children.