THE mother of two children snatched by their father and taken to the Middle East today relived the moment she realised they had left Britain and said: "I fear I may never see them again."

Josephine Bromley said she had warned her young girls not to get on a plane with their father when he took them away on a day trip as part of a week-long pre-arranged access visit. The heartbroken mum, of Lower Darwen, had her worst fears realised when she received a call from Noor Al-Momani, six, and Salam Al-Momani, 10, to say they were in Jordan with their dad.

Miss Bromley, 33, of Lower Darwen, said the youngsters told her they thought they were getting on a plane to fly for a trip to Alton Towers.

Their father, factory worker Jehad Al-Momani, has said in a telephone call to his former wife that he will return them from his former homeland before the end of the school holidays.

Mr Al-Momani, 37, of Station Road, Great Harwood, fled Britain with his two daughters, who attend Lower Darwen Primary School, more than a week ago after fighting through the courts for the right to look after them for the first week of the school holidays.

Miss Bromley, who lives with her fiance Paul Tomlinson, last spoke to the girls on Wednesday.

She said they told her they had been duped on to the flight from London to Jordan after their father had told them they were flying to Birmingham in order to make a trip to Alton Towers.

It was only once they were on the flight that their father, who split from Miss Bromley in 1995, told his daughters of their true destination. Beauty technician Miss Bromley said today: "I had always suspected he would try and do something like this which is why I had taught the girls never to go anywhere without telling us and never to get on to a plane with their dad. He told them they were going to Alton Towers.

"They were due back home from spending the week with him in Great Harwood last Monday. He had said he was taking them out on day trips, so we thought he had just taken them out when we couldn't get an answer.

"We only realised what had happened when he had left an answerphone message for us. The girls seemed fine when I spoke to them on Monday.

"They asked me to record a television programme for them. I have not told them what has happened because I don't want to upset them.

"Noor said she wanted to be home in time for her birthday on August 12, then she started getting emotional by telling me she loved me. Their father cut them off then. I don't know when I will speak to them again.

" I just want them back."

Police in Great Harwood, Blackburn and Darwen have all been informed of the snatch. Under British law, he could be arrested for breaching a court order, but that order does not apply in Jordan.

Mr Tomlinson, 40, who works at Blackburn engineering firm Netlon, said: "We have had suspicions he was going to do something like this.

"In June 2000 we went to court to sort out what access he could have to the children. He wanted every other weekend and was insistent he had the first week of the school holidays in July this year. Part of the conditions was that he didn't have his Jordanian passport when he was with the children, because he could not take them abroad with his British one.

"That was kept by Joey's Josephine's solicitor and he had to give two weeks notice before getting it back.

"Earlier this year, he borrowed it for four weeks and returned it. Then he went to Jordan, apparently to see his dying brother.

"We didn't know when he was coming back so we started planning other things for the week when he was supposed to have the children.

"Then he returned and served court papers on us to make sure he got the children for the week. He promised the judge he only wanted to take them on day trips but we knew something was wrong. Why was he so specific about that week?

"On the Wednesday before last he took them to London to go shopping.

"We think he has planned it all very carefully."

The couple have now enlisted the support of Darwen councillor, Karimeh Foster, to support them as they try and get the children back.

In the meantime, Miss Bromley's eldest daughter from another relationship, Emma, 14, is on holiday with her father in America, and is flying back to be with her mother.

Miss Bromley added: "She has been on the phone in tears ever since she heard what has happened. She will be back home soon. "They fight like cat and dog, but they love each other and she is distraught. I don't mind Jehad seeing the children, really I don't. I would love for him to see them whenever he wants but I have spent the past five years worrying that he was going to try something like this."

The couple hope their story will be read by Mr Al-Momani's friends in Great Harwood, or on the internet.

Mr Tomlinson added: "We just want the children to come back. We will do all we can to make sure he doesn't get into trouble.

"But they should be with us, that is where they belong."

The Foreign Office has been contacted. A spokesman said: "We are doing all we can to help the family and are liaising with the Jordanian Government. Detectives are liaising with Interpol and police in the Middle East to try and get the children back.

Neighbours have told officers they saw Mr Al-Momani on the day he left and he told them he would be back for the weekend.

The police have stressed they do not believe the children are in any danger. A spokesman said: "Our main objective at this time is to ensure the safety and welfare of the children. Once he is found, there may be extradition proceedings through the courts."