A BABY whose Hungarian immigrant parents did not want to care for her should be placed for adoption in England, a High Court judge has ruled.

Local authority social workers thought that the little girl, who is approaching her first birthday, should be sent to Hungary for adoption.

But her parents wanted her to be adopted in England because they thought that she would have a better life.

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Mr Justice Baker has ruled in favour of the Hungarian couple after analysing the dispute at a private family court hearing in Bristol.

He said, in a ruling, that no-one involved could be named.

Mr Justice Baker said the couple had given up their baby for adoption at birth.

"The mother and father stated that they had come to England to better themselves, that they were not in a position to bring up the baby themselves, that they wanted the baby adopted in England," he said.

"(The mother) stressed ... that her principal reason for wanting her baby adopted in this country was because she believed that she would have a better life here."

Social services bosses said the little girl might suffer through being deprived of links with her extended family in Hungary - and her culture - if she was adopted in England.

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But Mr Justice Baker doubted whether such a problem would cause the little girl "significant harm".

"I do not consider that the parents can be said to be acting unreasonably," said the judge.

"It is not unreasonable for them to want the baby to be placed for adoption in this country."

He added: "Unless society tolerates and facilitates such decisions, mothers who want their children to be placed in this country will be driven to take other steps."

And he went on: "In all the circumstances, I do not see how the mother's view that (the little girl) should be placed in this country could be described as unreasonable. It seems to me manifestly to fall within the broad band of choices which a reasonable parent might make."

Mr Justice Baker said the little girl would have to be made aware of her cultural heritage - and he warned that judges might make different decisions in other similar cases.

"It should not be assumed that this will be the outcome in every case where a child of foreign parents is relinquished for adoption. Each case will turn on its own facts," he said.

"In this case, it is plain that this is the outcome which best meets the welfare needs of this child.

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"Those needs include being brought up with an understanding of her background and cultural heritage, and those who arrange her adoption should look carefully to ensure that any proposed adopters are aware of this factor and have the ability and commitment to bring her up with such an understanding."