Four siblings locked in their home by their mother were rescued by worried neighbours in the Philippines.

Footage shows the youngsters peeking from a gap under the wooden door of their decrepit house in Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu province on December 4 evening.

Village officials said they received a report from the children's neighbour that the kids had been locked in the hovel for nearly 24 hours without an adult.

The women and children's protection desk of the local police arrived to rescue the siblings, aged 3 to 6 years old.

Village councillor Mark Estardo said: 'We couldn't destroy the padlock because that would be trespassing. We had to consult first with the city welfare office to have the door opened.'

The children were taken to the town hall where they were fed and allowed to sleep.

Their mother, 29, claimed she had left her kids in order to work. She said she was a single mum as the children's father had already abandoned the family.

She said: 'I left them food and water before going to work. I locked the door because I was afraid something would happen to them while I was gone. I admit that what I did was wrong. Someone has been offering to my children, but I refused. I want to be the one to raise them.'

The siblings were staying with the city welfare office as authorities determined whether their mother was fit to take care of them.

The Philippines is among the most overpopulated countries in the world due to poor family planning and reproductive health services.

Cultural and religious beliefs in the deeply Catholic nation have hampered policies involving contraception. Poverty also contributes to larger family sizes as some parents view children as economic assets, while inadequate education on reproductive health limits awareness about smaller family planning options.