A couple who are believed to be from Northern Ireland had their three young children temporarily taken into protective custody on holiday in Portugal after they became so drunk that they passed out, officials said today.
Hotel staff in Vilamoura in the Algarve called police after the couple collapsed on Friday night.
They were rushed to a health centre in nearby Loule while their children aged one, two and six were taken to the Refugio Aboim Ascensao children's home in Faro.
Dr Luis Villas-Boas, the home's director, said the incident was "very very shocking".
"It is the first time it has happened in my 22 years working at this home," he said.
"It's normal for a couple for one to drink while the other doesn't drink. The problem here is they were both passed out.
"It was extreme neglect and abandonment. I hope somebody carries this information to the UK so these parents can at least be seen because these children are indeed at risk.
"They were in severe danger and there could be a risk because it is very unlikely it was the first time for the parents to drink like that."
The incident happened on the eve of the first anniversary of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, who went missing from her family's Algarve holiday flat while her parents dined nearby.
The couple arrived with their children at the Aparthotel Mourabel in Vilamoura on Friday for a one-week holiday.
On Friday night the parents had been drinking at a nearby bar with a happy hour until 8pm where a pint of lager costs just one euro, a barman at the hotel's tapas bar said.
The husband collapsed in the hotel reception while his wife staggered into the bar with her children and fell into a chair, the barman said.
He added: "They were in here this morning and they were very, very upset about their treatment. They were sitting by the bar, looking very unhappy."
A second barman said: "I don't think they meant to drink that much but when they tried to stop I think they just couldn't. They seemed very nice people. It is a great shame this happened."
Dr Villas-Boas said his children's home was called at just after midnight and asked to provide emergency shelter for the children.
The youngsters were given a quick hospital check-up in Faro then arrived at the home at about 5am on Saturday morning.
The three children showed no signs of neglect, and Dr Villas-Boas believe they not will have any lasting ill effects from their ordeal.
PA