A Sussex mother jailed for cruelty to five children is fighting to win custody of her ninth child.

The baby boy was taken into care at birth this year but the mother and her new partner are taking the case to the High Court.

If they lose, the child will be put up for adoption.

The London borough council defending the case will argue the mother is unfit.

All of the woman's children were taken from her following her conviction.

She was released from Holloway prison, London, last year after being sentenced to two-and-a-half years.

Lewes Crown Court heard how babies and toddlers were living in filth and squalor.

Babies were fed roast dinners before they were weaned, their heads were crawling with lice and they were often ignored.

The 28-year-old mother and her former partner, a 40-year-old Brighton man, were acquitted of murdering two of their babies and a baby nephew.

Experts testified the children were probably smothered and the mother accused her partner of killing them, saying he did it because the babies were crying.

But the court could not decide which of the two was responsible and both were found not guilty.