A married couple who had a newborn baby and their six other children taken into care after their parents were judged to be too overweight to look after them has had their baby returned home. However, their six other children remain in care.

The mother gave birth to the little girl by Caesarean section at Ninewells hospital in Dundee two weeks ago.

Just 24 hours later, social workers arrived on the maternity ward to take her daughter away, after serving child protection papers on both parents.

Six of their other children have also been taken into care this year. Family rights campaigners say the case clearly illustrates what can happen when the State is given excessive power to intervene in family life;

The couple, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, say they have been falsely accused of being unable to look after their family because they are overweight.

The father weighs 18 stone and the mother weighs more than 23 stone.

Last year, authorities expressed concern that some of the children were dangerously overweight.

The mother said they were being discriminated against because of their weight in an exclusive interview with Sky News channel.

“When they took my baby away I couldn’t believe it. I had to pull the needle out of my arm and run out of the hospital,” she said.

“I love all my children so much and we look after them well.

“I’m so happy to have my baby back but I just want the others home as well now.”

The father said they were addressing the weight issue and were doing the best they could.

“We feed them well, lots of fruit and vegetables, and no fried foods,” he said.

“They’re well dressed and they go to school. I know the council thinks we can’t control them, but the fighting is just sibling rivalry.”

Three of the children in care are now attending an obesity clinic. The eldest child asked the authorities himself to be taken away from his parents.

Dundee city council does not comment on individual cases but a spokesperson said: “Children would not be removed from a family environment just because of a weight issue.

“Any decision about a child’s situation is given full and careful consideration. Councils will always act with the welfare and safety of children in mind and there can be many reasons for action being taken.”

The unemployed couple have recently been rehoused from a flat on a Dundee estate to a four-bedroomed, semi-detached house.

They say their greatest hope now is that the rest of the family is returned home to them soon.