A woman has been charged with abducting two children.

Anita Birdi, 19, of Pretoria Road, Ilford, is set to appear at Thames Magistrates' Court today accused of removing two girls, aged 14 and 15, from the lawful control of their parent and conspiracy to commit fraud.

Birdi is alleged to have contravened Section 2 of the Child Abduction Act 1984 on two counts and one count of alleged conspiracy to commit fraud.

Both alleged crimes were committed between Friday and Saturday.

Police say that Birdi, who works as a domestic cleaner at Little Gem Domestic Services, was unknown to the two victims prior to the alleged incident.