Inquiry call over girl found dead in canal.

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CHILD PROTECTION

An inquiry has been demanded into the way social workers handled the case of a five-year-old girl whose body was found last week in a canal in the Highlands.

Relatives of Danielle Reid say social workers were told months ago that the girl had failed to attend school and are demanding to know why Highland Council social work department failed to take action to protect the child, despite these warnings. They claim social workers visited the child's home just before Christmas but left when there was no reply.

Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber MP David Stewart, who is a former social worker, said only a full inquiry would reveal what really happened.

"We need to see whether lessons can be learned to avert anything of a similar nature happening again. No child should ever be lost to the system in this way," he said.

A council spokesman said an internal investigation was already under way.

"There will be a full review of any contact the council had with Danielle," he said.

"All information we have will immediately be passed to the Northern Constabulary".

Danielle's mother, Tracy Reid, 24, her boyfriend, Lee Gaytor, 25, and his brother Christopher Gaytor, 22, appeared at Inverness Sheriff court last week in connection with the case.

They have all been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice. They made no plea or declaration and were remanded in custody for a week.