Rebecca Minnock: Search continues for missing mum and son

The search is continuing for a woman who went missing 16 days ago with her son after a court ruled he should live with his father.

Rebecca Minnock, 35, and her son Ethan, three, have been missing from Highbridge in Somerset since 27 May.

Police want to find Ms Minnock and Ethan so he can be returned to his father Roger Williams.

Ms Minnock told the Daily Mail she accepted her actions were "wrong" and "I know I can't do this for ever."

She described the situation as "sad and desperate" and told the paper that although she had thought about contacting the police, she "could not bear to give her son up". She added she did not know when she would come out of hiding.

Ms Minnock told the newspaper Ethan "needs his home, he needs his own bed" and added: "I do accept that what I've done is wrong, I'm going to be in a huge amount of trouble for this. It's Ethan that I worry about."

She had told The Sun on Wednesday she and Ethan were "safe and well".

A district judge had ruled Ethan should live with his father Roger Williams

Andrew Butt, a family friend, who has been convicted of contempt of court in the custody case, is due to appear at Bristol Crown Court later.

He has been told he could face jail for driving Ms Minnock and Ethan to Cheltenham around the time Ms Minnock disappeared.

Ethan has lived with his mother since his parents separated in February 2013.

On 27 May, a district judge ruled Ethan should live with his father after finding Miss Minnock had made false allegations and obstructed contact between the father and son.

Police released a new picture of Ethan as part of the search, which has been widened and is thought to include Birmingham