‘When I started there was funding for second, third, fourth, fifth chances.’

The number of children in care in England is at its highest since 1985 and it's rising. A mother's addiction to drugs and alcohol is often one of the issues. Reporter and DJ Milly Chowles became a mum at 40 last year, she’s in recovery from addiction and feels she was given lots of chances to change. Her fear is that women now aren’t getting those opportunities and the impact on them, their children and society is devastating.

In a series for Woman’s Hour, Milly has been talking to women at risk of having their children removed and the people who are trying to help them. Here she speaks to an old friend, Lydia.