Bradford Council has been asked to pay £700 to a boy with learning difficulties after his former foster mother was not allowed to keep in touch with him when he was moved into a home.

Local Government Ombudsman Pat-ricia Thomas has also recommended the foster mother be paid £500 in recognition of the distress she suffered. She said the Council should consider letting the boy - who is now 18 - be reunited with his foster mother.

The Ombudsman also found the Council failed to encourage contact between the youngster and his younger sister and said the possibility of bringing them together should be considered.

The foster mother - who was not named by the Ombudsman in yesterday's report - looked after the child for nine years.

She wanted to remain in contact with him but Council officers denied her any contact, says Mrs Thomas's report.

The Council also ended her appointment as a foster carer. She later told the Ombudsman that when she applied to another agency, a reference was given which resulted in her being rejected. The Ombudsman did not find the Council had acted improperly in the ending of her appointment but decided the reference had been unbalanced.

Mrs Thomas has recommended the Council review its practices affecting children in similar situations and provide training for its staff on good practice in relation to contact between people. The complaint was submitted by the carer and the youth.