A leading councillor has vigorously rejected claims that staff in his department failed to protect Child A - the schoolgirl at the centre of the Ashworth Hospital scandal.

Councillor Mike Young - the chairman of Bradford social services - spoke after criticisms by Terry Rooney MP and a senior policeman in the inquiry.

Councillor Young said the blame for allowing the girl to visit the hospital on at least 150 occasions lay firmly with the management at Ashworth Hospital.

The Fallon Report, published last week, exposed the total breakdown of order within the personality disorder unit (PDU) at the Merseyside high security hospital, home to some of the country's most dangerous killers and child abusers.

The youngster was brought from Bradford on regular visits to the hospital by her father, who encouraged friendships with sex offenders inside.

Councillor Young stressed social workers took all steps in their powers to protect child A.

"Legal advice was sought, and full inter-agency co-operation with the police, education and health services took place in the preparation of the child protection plan," he said.

"The preliminary inquiry undertaken by the Bradford and Airedale Child Protection Committee clearly established that it was not the responsibility of Bradford social services staff to monitor visits to Ashworth."

Bradford Council knew the girl - then aged three - was visiting Ashworth Hospital as long ago as 1992. They were advised by her school in May 1995 that she had again reported visits to "her godfather in hospital".

They sought legal advice to block the visits but experts advised that it was not possible.

A spokesman agreed the panel's remit had been to investigate the hospital, not care standards of Bradford social services.

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