Kerry Katona and estranged husband Mark Croft have launched a bitter battle over their two children, the News of the World can reveal.

The pair faced each other in court on Friday with BOTH demanding full custody of Heidi, three, and two-year-old Max.

Our source said: “They are going to fight each other to the bitter end.

“Kerry says they should be with her because she is their mother. Mark says he’s going to remind the court of every single time Kerry praised him as a
father.”

And the former Atomic Kitten star expects to WIN. A friend said last night: “Kerry was delighted with how the case went yesterday. She thinks the judge was very sympathetic towards her.”

Kerry is also facing a separate battle over her two children by former husband Brian McFadden.

The ex Westlife star wants Molly, eight, and Lilly-Sue, seven, to move to Australia to live with him and fiancée Delta Goodrem. He believes any future case will be strengthened by our story last year exposing Kerry’s cocaine abuse.

Round one of the battle between Kerry, 29, and Croft, 39, began when they arrived separately at court in Altrincham, Cheshire.

Kerry looked smart in a black dress and was flanked by three solicitors. She calmly smiled and acknowledged Croft, who ignored her.

Our source said: “Kerry said she was going for the lot – full custody, most of the holidays and EVERY Christmas Day. Kez knew that by being as harsh as possible she would hurt Mark as much as she could.”

Our source went on: “For all his bravado, Mark knows joint custody is probably his best option. But when he heard Kerry’s conditions he changed his mind. To be told he can never see his kids at Christmas was the final straw.”

Kerry left the marital home in Wilmslow, Cheshire, on Tuesday and moved into a £3,500-a-month rented mansion in Godstone, Surrey, with her children. The house is near new manager Claire Powell and closer to pal Peter Andre

Source: News of the World