A boy adopted by a Christian couple was physically restrained at a prayer meeting while people "talked in tongues" around him, judges have been told.

Social services staff were told the prayer meeting was held at the couple's home because the boy, now 13, had "demons" in him, the Court of Appeal heard.

The boy told social workers he was "held down by numerous people" who had "spoken in a different language".

Judges heard that the couple, a former teacher and her husband, had adopted the boy and his brother, now 10.

The boys complained that they were unfairly smacked, shouted at and restrained by the couple, had soap put in their mouths when they swore, and the older boy was put in cold showers when he behaved badly.

Social services staff intervened after the older boy arrived at school with his nose bleeding and alleged that his mother had hit him.

Judge Michael Yelton ruled at a family court hearing in Cambridge that the boys, who had been taken from their birth parents as a result of being abused, should be taken from the adopting couple and placed into council care.

The couple have challenged that ruling in the Court of Appeal. They have asked two appeal judges to order the return of the younger boy to their care.

Detail emerged in a ruling by Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Simon following a Court of Appeal hearing in London.

The two appeal judges concluded that "more analysis" of the younger boy's case is required and have ordered a retrial.

They said Judge Yelton's ruling was not "necessarily wrong", but suggested he did not provide enough reasons for his decisions.

A judge based in the Family Division of the High Court - Mr Justice Newton - has now taken charge of the case.

No date has yet been fixed for a new trial.

Appeal judges have not identified the boys in their ruling but said social services staff involved worked for Cambridgeshire County Council.

The couple say there was a "lack of support" from social services staff.

They told appeal judges that the "impossible" behaviour of the older boy had "driven them on occasion" to slapping or hitting him.

Social services bosses accepted that the older boy's behaviour had been "extraordinarily challenging", but said the disciplinary regime in the couple's home was "inappropriate, damaging and punitive", and went beyond "a tap" or "smack".

Information about the prayer meeting came from three sources, appeal judges said in their ruling.

A member of the public told social services staff that the meeting took place because the older boy had "demons" in him; the older boy said he had been held down and spoken to in a "different language"; and the couple said a meeting had taken place and the older boy had been restrained while "certain attendees ... talked in tongues around him".

The couple are being backed by campaign group Christian Concern and its sister organisation the Christian Legal Centre in their fight to regain the younger boy.

Andrea Williams, the Christian Legal Centre's chief executive, said the couple were "treated as if they were not the 'real' parents".