Prosecution decision today for mother of children found dead on Costa Brava

Lianne Smith, 43, is in custody and expected to undergo psychiatric tests following the discovery of the bodies of her daughter Rebecca, five and son Daniel, 11 months.

Their father is Martin Smith, 45, an alleged paedophile who was arrested while on the run in Spain. He appeared in court in Carlisle this week accused of a string of child sex offences.

She will appear in court in Blanes near Lloret de Mar.

Under the Spanish legal system, a suspect appears before a judge who decides whether there is sufficient evidence to bring a case against them.

The bodies of Ms Smith's children were found in Room 101 in the Hotel Miramar in the resort of Lloret de Mar on Tuesday.

A local police spokesman said there was no blood at the scene nor any signs of violence.

Sources close to the investigation told El Mundo newspaper that police believed the youngsters were suffocated.

It was reported that Mrs Smith, who is believed to have run a nursery in Barcelona, was worried the Spanish authorities would take her children away.

Ms Smith and Rebecca were reported missing from Staffordshire in 2007.

Rebecca had been referred by police to council social service investigators as a result of allegations made against Martin Smith and child protection procedures had been in place before they moved to Staffordshire from Cumbria.

Lianne Smith was employed as a manager in Cumbria County Council's children's services department but did not work directly with children, the council said.

She was responsible for devising out-of-school activities throughout the county for the benefit of pupils, parents and the community.