Leicester City Council's former interim children's services director has hit back at claims made by city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby that news of a burgeoning crisis caused by a botched structural overhaul was kept hidden from him.

Elaine McHale, who was sacked in her new role as interim adult care director earlier this month ahead of a damning Ofsted inspection – which revealed nearly 300 children were left without an allocated social worker following the exodus of 30 staff – sent an email to Leicester councillors which disputed Sir Peter's claims that accurate information was withheld from elected members.