A tragic Torbay widow has failed in her attempt to win back three of her children who have been put up for adoption against her wishes.

A Torquay County Court judge decided the children should be handed over to Torbay Council for adoption after her mental health deteriorated following the death of her husband.

Now the woman, who cannot be named, has failed in a last-ditch hearing at London's Appeal Court to win them back. Senior family judge Lord Justice Thorpe, said her challenge to the original decision was "not even arguable". But he said he could not fail to be moved by the "exceptionally sad" details of the case.

The mother's barrister, Robin Tolson QC, said the decision to put her children up for adoption had "pulled the plug" on her.

He had argued the children would have difficulty forming any "emotional attachment" to adoptive parents. He said Torbay Council was already reducing contact between the mother and her children, and soon she would only be allowed to see them three times a year.

The barrister argued the children should either be returned to the mother or, at the very least, remain with foster parents rather than be formally adopted. He said this had been the "preferred" course of action earlier this year of the County Court Judge, David Tyzack QC.

Judge Tyzack was hoping for a "phased development" plan leading to an eventual reunion, but changed his mind when it emerged the mother hadn't complied with earlier court orders. Mr Tolson said the judge's decision was "draconian" and would eventually lead to the permanent separation of the mother from her children.

But Lord Justice Thorpe said the county court judge's decision had been "fully reasoned".

A Torbay Council spokeswoman said they do not comment on individual cases.