Mr Justice Cobb (pictured) said there was 'no doubt in my mind' that the council had violated the family's human rights

A week-old baby was taken off his parents in hospital by social workers after his father expressed 'unorthodox views about the benefits of formula milk'.

Social workers from Kirklees Council took away the baby boy after his father had voiced his opinion about bottle sterilisation and feeding.

Now, in a damning decision the council has been ordered to pay the family £11,250 in damages.

Mr Justice Cobb said there was 'no doubt in my mind' that the council had violated the family's human rights - and even 'misled' a family judge.

Kirklees Council employees had persuaded the judge to sanction the baby being taken into emergency care without even telling his parents about the hearing.

The mother, in her 20s, suffered from minor mental health problems and other difficulties and the father had in the past been aggressive to others.

But staff at the special care baby unit where he was cared for in the days after his delivery had expressed 'no child protection concerns'.

Maternity ward medics did, however, tell the council they were anxious about the couple's long-term ability to care for their baby.

Among other things, they said the father had 'expressed unorthodox views about the need for sterilisation of bottles and the benefits of formula milk.'

Just before the baby was due to be discharged from hospital into his parents' care, the council rushed to court and obtained an emergency care order.

The judge was told that the parents were 'on notice' of the hearing and had 'agreed' to their baby being taken away from them.

Kirklees council (headquarters pictured) has been ordered to pay the family £11,250 damages

The council also 'forgot to notify Cafcass' (which represents children in family court cases) about the case so there was no lawyer present to represent the baby boy's interests.

Mr Justice Cobb said the couple were in fact 'unaware' of the hearing and were 'understandably very upset' when they were told about it.

A spate of further hearings followed and the baby was finally sent home to his parents about three months after his removal.

In the year since then, the judge said the boy had 'continued to thrive in his parents care'.

He added: 'There is no doubt in my mind, indeed it is admitted, that Kirklees Council breached the human rights of a baby boy and his parents.

'I am satisfied that the breaches were serious... the separation of a baby from his parents represents a very serious interference with family life.'

The failure to notify the parents of the care hearing was 'particularly egregious' and involved 'misleading the judge no fewer than three times'.

Awarding the mother, the father and the little boy £3,750 damages each, the judge said that was 'just and fair satisfaction' for the wrongs done to them.