A judge has been criticised by a former MP for ruling that the identity of a woman found to be in contempt of court after her daughter was taken into care must remain a secret.

After a family court hearing in Reading on Friday Judge Simon Oliver banned journalists around the world from reporting her name.

The woman, who lives near Oxford, was found to be in contempt of court after her daughter was taken into care by Oxfordshire County Council.

Judge Oliver concluded that the woman had wrongly revealed details of her daughter's circumstances in an interview with a Polish journalist.

The judge said he feared that the woman would generate more publicity and cause her daughter further emotional harm.

He said if the woman spoke to foreign journalists information could rebound to England via the internet.

But former Lib Dem MP John Hemming, who campaigns for improvements in the family justice system, said reporters should be able to name the woman.

He said: "The reporting restriction order is ludicrously over the top.

"Judges should not make orders they cannot enforce - and how can this possibly be enforced abroad?

"This woman has been found guilty of contempt at a public court hearing.

"She could have been jailed.

"The public have a right to know the names of people convicted of wrongdoing in public courts. 

"The judge is worried about the effects of publicity on the child - but the order itself will generate publicity."

Judge Oliver said there was a need for transparency in family courts.

He said world-wide reporting restriction orders were unusual but he wanted to protect the teenager.