ABUSE of six children in one family went undetected by the authorities for years, reports have revealed.

Lewisham Safeguarding Children Board, a partnership between all agencies dealing with child welfare in the borough, reviewed two cases involving a family referred to as Family K, following a judge’s recommendation.

In its findings the board criticises Lewisham Council, Lewisham Primary Care Trust and the police for failing to protect the children.

The eldest child, now aged 17, claimed she had a baby when she was just 13, a claim that was not properly investigated.

The board’s reports show there was physical neglect of the children, exposure to pornographic material and emotional abuse arising from domestic violence.

The eldest daughter was also subjected to prolonged sexual abuse within the family and by older teens.

The board found Lewisham Council’s response to this was “lacked rigour and thoroughness”.

When the children were entered on the child protection register between 2000 and 2002, the abuse continued, but plans made to safeguard them were never implemented.

And in what one of the reports describes as a “wrong” decision, their names were removed from the register for 18 months before being placed on there again in 2004 as a result of “continuing neglect and injuries”.

It concludes: “Overall the local authority failed the children by failing to visit and monitor their wellbeing, failing to assess their circumstances fully and failing in its legal duty to protect them by applying for care orders at a much earlier point.”

Some of the children have been adopted and others are in care.

At a council meeting discussing the findings Lewisham Mayor Sir Steve Bullock said: "I want to express the enormous sadness and regret that all of us feel about this case.

“I expect to receive future reports on the implementation of all the recommendations.

“It should be noted that it was two of our social workers that finally worked out what needed to be done and bought this to an end."