A woman and her son are "on the run" in Britain after a court ruled the boy should live with his father, it has emerged.

Rebecca Minnock (35) left her home in Highbridge, Somerset, with her only child, Ethan (3), two weeks ago.

Police had been appealing for help in finding the pair, but the circumstances of their disappearance remained secret until now.

In a highly unusual step, Judge Stephen Wildblood has relaxed the reporting restrictions in the case to help reunite Ethan with his father, Roger Williams.

And Miss Minnock's brother Marvin Shaw, sister Limmie Shaw and mother Louise Minnock have all appeared before the judge at Bristol Crown Court to answer questions about their whereabouts.

Mr Shaw and Mrs Minnock both swore they did not know where Miss Minnock and Ethan were and do not have a way to contact them.

But the judge told them: "I have suspicions that you know more. The enquiries go on and Ethan will be found so the longer it lasts the worse it gets for everyone."

The judge also said: "They are, in effect, on the run. They can't claim benefits because if they do they will be found."

He adjourned the case and told Miss Minnock's family to come forward if they find out anything about where Ethan is.

Ethan had been living with his mother, who prefers to be known as Becky, after she and Mr Williams separated in February 2013.

Later that year, a court granted Mr Williams some contact with Ethan, in the presence of Miss Minnock, but this arrangement soon broke down.

Allegations rejected by the court

Miss Minnock twice made allegations against Mr Williams - the first time in January 2014 and then again in February 2015.

Both times the claims were rejected by the court.

Ethan began spending four nights a week with his dad and three with his mum earlier this year.

A child psychiatrist recommended the boy live with Mr Williams and have supervised contact with Miss Minnock - a view shared by a social worker and guardian.

A hearing was due to take place in Bristol on May 27th. Before it, Miss Minnock was advised Ethan would be taken to live with his father.

She was last seen withdrawing cash at an Asda in Highbridge at 8:17am on the day of the hearing.

Miss Minnock, who does not drive, was driven away in a black Ford Focus.

At the hearing, the judge ruled Ethan should live with his dad and Miss Minnock should only have supervised contact.

The judge said the three-year-old had been exposed to "emotional harm" by his mother and she had breached previous court orders.

Mrs Minnock said her daughter was "very upset" ahead of the hearing.

"She said she had had enough of being failed," she said.

Mr Shaw, Miss Minnock's brother, told the judge: "I just don't understand how the psychiatrist's report, the social services report came back that she was a good mother, she didn't have a mental disorder but they have still continued to want to take the child from her."

"That is a massive injustice."

Miss Minnock is white, about 5ft 3in, of medium build and has dark wavy shoulder length hair. Ethan is white with blond hair and blue eyes.