A BROOKLANDS woman left her three daughters with a drunken baby-sitter who fell asleep while making them chips and set fire to the kitchen.

The children aged six, three and 12 weeks had to be rescued by neighbours and treated in hospital for smoke inhalation, a Manchester court heard.

Prosecutor Ruth Sutton said the sitter, who had also taken drugs, was not in the house when the blaze started.

The 24 year old mother of the children burst into tears when she was convicted of neglecting her children last September.

Magistrate Mr Archie Downie told her: "These are serious matters and could have been even more tragic but for good fortune."

The court heard that the 28 year old sitter had gone on the run after admitting similar charges in November.

Miss Sutton said the chip pan had caught fire while the mother was at the local shops.

The children were barefoot and one was only dressed in a dirty T-shirt when rescued, it was said.

In the house police found a bread knife and cigarette lighters within easy reach of the children - and an exposed syringe needle on the bed.

Miss Sutton said when the mother was arrested she had hyperdermic needles and drug paraphernalia in her bag.

The mother denied the charges and said she was only away from the house for 20 minutes. She claimed the property found in her bag belonged to her brother.

"I didn't realise the sitter had taken anything other than a drink. I trusted her."

She was bailed until May 6 for sentence and the bench warned her they were considering all options including prison.

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