SERVICES for vulnerable children in Cumbria which were branded "inadequate" are starting to improve, according to a Government minister.

Edward Timpson, Minister of State for Children and Families, has however warned that this must continue or the authority may have to be handed over to another organisation.

His warning was made in a letter to senior county councillors

Last year Ofsted concluded that Cumbria children's services were inadequate. This was the third time in four years that inspectors had come to this conclusion.

Council chiefs had insisted that they were tackling the issues addressed by Ofsted.

Mr Timpson said in his letter: "Having considered all the available evidence, I am satisfied that the council is taking reasonable steps to address remaining weaknesses. l welcome the commitment of elected members and the senior leadership team and their engagement with external support. 

"I am reassured that the council is giving due attention to performance across the range of services, rather than focusing only on those areas which were judged by Ofsted to be inadequate."

Mr Timpson added that he appreciated the focus councillors and officials had on making changes during last year's floods and also praised improvements in the way services are scrutinised.

He said: "On this basis, I intend to maintain the current level of intervention in Cumbria with a further progress review in six months."

"Should progress on improvement not continue at pace then I will need to consider whether service control can continue to remain with the council," he added.

Anne Burns, the authority's cabinet member for children's services, said: "We are all determined that we are going to improve services to children.

"The councillors are involved and people are really working together to improve services and you can feel the difference it is making."

She added that the authority was not in a "requires improvement game" and would not rest on its laurels.