A PRESTON mother who tried to stop her husband divorcing her has failed in a 'hopeless' Appeal Court bid.

The court heard how Mary Wood, 39, of Bridgeway, Lostock Hall, had 'taken advantage' of a clerical error to obstruct her husband John from divorcing her.

Lord Justice Thorpe, sitting with Lord Justice Chadwick and Lady Justice Butler-Sloss, told the court: "Everything this wife has done can be categorised as being a voracious, useless obsession with hopeless litigation."

The court heard how Mr Wood, who now lives and works abroad, was granted the first stage of a divorce - a decree nisi - early last year.

But court documents at the time mistakenly recorded that the final stage of the divorce - a decree absolute - could not be made for another 12 months, instead of the usual six weeks.

Mrs Wood has appealed against a County Court judge's decision in April this year to finalise the divorce.

But Lord Justice Thorpe said: "The reality is that the wife has been taking advantage of a clerical error to obstruct the husband's right to a decree absolute.

"What then is the worth of this appeal? The answer is that it is of no worth at all."

Mrs Wood, whose children are aged 10 and 13, came to England in 1985, from her native Syria. She married her husband, from Preston, after meeting him in the Sudan.

She now intends to emigrate to America, where she has family. She is concerned the finalisation of her divorce might make emigration more difficult.

She added: "I am being obstructed from taking my children to the USA - if I take them I will be accused of kidnapping.

"The English justice system is not protecting children of mixed marriages enough."

Mrs Wood was ordered to pay the appeal costs, but said she would now seek leave to take her case to the House of Lords.

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