A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a woman charged with neglecting and abusing her four children after she failed to appear in court.

Anita Holmes, 43, of Wadham Road in Walthamstow, failed to attend a plea hearing at Thames Magistrates Court on Friday.

Holmes was responsible for four children under the age of 16.

On April 18, Holmes was arrested and charged with four separate counts of assault, ill-treatment, neglect and abandonment of child or young person to cause unnecessary suffering or injury.

All four children are being cared for by Waltham Forest Social Services.