A GROUP of mothers from across the Dudley borough plan to set off Chinese lanterns into the night sky on Christmas Eve to raise awareness of the campaign to win their children back from local authority care.

The eight mums - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - claim their children have been wrongly taken from them and put up for fostering or adoption.

The women from Halesowen and Dudley, plan to let off 15 lanterns - one for each child - from Dudley town centre at 10pm tomorrow They are taking part in Light Up The Sky 2010, when thousands of Chinese lanterns will be launched into free flight nationwide as a reminder of children whose parents claim have been wrongly taken by social services.

A spokeswoman for the group said: “We are doing this to highlight our plight and to raise people’s awareness.”

The mothers claim Dudley Social Services have wrongly taken their children into care and are fighting for them to be returned.

“This is the worst time of the year for mothers who are separated from their children. It’s horrible, you do not want to get up because there’s no point and you don’t want to celebrate.

“Christmas is a time for children, but none of us will see ours on Christmas Day,” added the spokeswoman.

She said the group of women had formed a strong bond and were united in their bid to win back their children.

Former Dudley councillor Lynn Boleyn, who is campaigning on behalf of the mothers, said the gesture was “a reminder to the children that their parents still love them and are fighting for them - a reminder that these parents are not alone - a reminder to everyone that this terrible scandal is going on and must be stopped.”

A spokesman for Dudley Council said: “Our adoption procedures follow an approved legal process with the final adoption order determined by a court of law after long and considered opinion from counsel and learned judges.”