Neighbours express shock over mum-of-four's appalling actions

Residents in a Philadelphia neighbourhood have expressed shock after it was revealed their neighbour had locked her four children in a basement without food or access to a bathroom for up to 12 hours.

29-year-old mother, Charnae Lee, has been charged with unlawful restraint and false imprisonment by police after her children managed to raise the alarm on Sunday morning.

Using a phone given to them by their mother, one of the children alerted authorities to their whereabouts before being rescued by a crew of firefighters.

Defending herself against the charges, the children's mother asserted she had punished the children by sending them to the basement, but was unaware that the door was locked when she went to work.

Shocked neighbours found themselves discussing the appalling turn of events and admitted that the woman's actions didn't tally with the perception they had of the mum-of-four, saying: "She's a very disciplined mom, And really, honestly we're all shocked because it doesn't seem like something she would do."

Charnae, who was described as a' very kind lady' by baffled residents, denies the charges.

The woman's children range in age from nine to 13-years-old.