Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has voiced his support for British mother Beth Alexander, who lost a custody battle for her five-year old twin sons Samuel and Benjamin, who live in Vienna with her ex-husband Michael Schlesinger.

In an open letter this week, Rabbi Mirvis said: “I am concerned about reports that the twins’ growth and development are suffering, while the mother is not included in any way in matters relating to her children’s health, welfare and education.”

Ms Alexander said an Austrian judge had refused to allow her to visit her children on their birthday this week.

She said: “Being separated from the twins is a constant heartache, but special days like birthdays hurt all the more.”

She added that she had abandoned plans to take her case to the European Court of Human Rights.