Kirklees MBC has apologised for failing to protect two girls from abuse after an independent review found opportunities were lost to protect them from exploitation.

The review into historic child sexual abuse was conducted by social work expert Mark Peel.

Kirklees' director of children's services, Mel Meggs, said: ‘We are truly sorry that these two girls were not protected in the right way.'

Council chief executive, Jacqui Gedman, said: ‘We commissioned Dr Peel's report because we were determined to gain a fully independent view of our practise at the time of these cases.

'We have been completely open in our desire to examine our own actions and make every improvement we possibly can.

'We absolutely agree with Dr Peel that a small number of the cases could, and should, have been handled differently at the time and, on behalf of the council, I want to apologise to the girls that we let down.'