A high court judge has queried what the Government is doing to protect vulnerable young woman, after a Cumbrian teenager hit the headlines.

Sir James Munby yesterday approved a plan of care for the suicidal 17-year-old - known as X - which will see a unit specially-adapted to care for up to eight young adults.

She had been taken into the care of Cumbria County Council in June, after repeated suicide attempts. However, where she was being looked after was wholly unsuitable for her and she was due to be discharged on August 14.

Sir James hit the national headlines we he said he was "ashamed" at the inability to find her a suitable bed - despite everyone's best efforts - and warned the state would have "blood on its hands" should the girl be discharged and succeed in taking her own life.

Approving the care plan yesterday, Sir James acknowledged that a bed had only been found as a result of his strong words.

He continued: "I cannot escape the powerful feeling that, but for my judgment, the steps subsequently taken would have been neither as effective nor as speedily effective as appears to have been the case.

"This, however, is not a matter for congratulation; on the contrary, it is, of itself, yet further cause for concern.

"The provision of the care that someone like X needs should not be dependent upon judicial involvement, nor should someone like X be privileged just because her case comes before a very senior judge.

"I emphasise this because a mass of informed, if anecdotal, opinion indicates that X’s is not an isolated case and that there are far too many young women in similar predicaments.

"How are they to be protected?"