SHE was so drunk it was enough to reduce her two young children to tears.

Their mum was standing just inches from the edge of a railway platform in charge of the two youngsters and was so intoxicated that she had to be prevented from falling over.

Onlookers were that concerned by what they saw that they phoned police who turned up to arrest the woman.

The drama unfolded on a platform at Southampton Central Station as the 34-year-old and her two children waited for a train.

Southampton Magistrates Court was told that the woman was arrested and charged with being drunk in charge of a child under the age of seven.

The two children were visibly distressed as a result of her behaviour, the court heard.

Being drunk in charge of a child under the age of seven carries a maximum penalty of one month in jail but she was made the subject of a 12-month community order - an alternative to prison.

Natalie Angel, prosecuting, said: "Police were made aware that the defendant was standing on platform four with two children.

"She was very close to the edge of the platform - she was over the yellow line - and was unsteady on her feet. She had to be supported several times to stop her falling over.

"The two children were visibly upset and crying."

The defendant was arrested and told police she had been on her way to her mother's funeral - but the woman died several years ago, the court heard.

The woman, who is unemployed, was living in Gosport when she committed the offence on June 12.

The defendant, who has since moved to the north of England, admitted being drunk in charge of two children under the age of seven.

Jane Hiatt, defending, said the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was diagnosed with bipolar after her relationship with her partner broke down.

She added: "She was prescribed medication but at the time of the incident had stopped taking it.

"That was the wrong thing to do and she now knows that.

"She had a couple of glasses of wine on the train to Southampton.

"She doesn't know why she said she was on her way to her mother's funeral - sadly her mother died some time ago.

"The defendant has now moved back to Liverpool and is living with her grandmother. She has stopped drinking completely."

As well as being handed a community order the woman was told to pay £85 costs and a victim surchage of £85.