Cornwall Council has been given back control of its children's services department, ministers have confirmed.

The decision to end nearly four years of central government intervention follows a recent positive Ofsted inspection and praise from Lucy de Groot, independent chair the improvement board.

An Ofsted report issued 15 March detailed significant improvements in the quality and effectiveness of Cornwall's social work and early help since 2011.

Children's minister Edward Timpson, who wrote to the council revoking the direction, said Cornwall had made good progress in addressing issues raised in previous Ofsted inspections.

‘This represents a significant improvement in child protection social work practice and I want to acknowledge the hard work of Council staff and those in partner organisations in bringing this about,' Mr Timpson said.

Lucy de Groot, who chaired the Improvement Board, seconded Mr Timpsons' comments, which she said, reflected her own views on the improvements.

‘It should not be underestimated just how serious the deficiencies were in 2009 and the report at the time was rightly damning,' said Ms De Groot. ‘The improvement, as the Ofsted inspectors said, has been huge and I congratulate everyone involved.'

Cornwall Council's interim chief executive Paul Masters said: ‘The official removal of the Direction does not mark an end to this hard work. 

‘We know that we still have more work to do and I am pleased to see the positive comments from the Minister expressing confidence in the Council's ability and commitment to achieve these further improvements.'