The theft of 21 laptops containing sensitive information should have been reported to the Information Commissioner's Office, a meeting examining the findings of several reports into Rotherham Council's handling of child sex abuse reports has heard.

Colin Earl has told the hearing that no false information was given out to the public or press in relation to the theft, but Rotherham Council gave "the minimum required".

The authority had been accused of covering up details related to the theft at the council's Norfolk House offices, with the laptops still missing to this day.

The meeting in Rotherham has been told it was probable that files were removed from the council's Risky Business youth project office, but "not beyond reasonable doubt".

Image source, Rotherham Council

Colin Earl (pictured) has told the hearing the issue was "not clear cut", as one group claimed files had been removed but managers said they were unaware of this.

South Yorkshire Police has created an incident number in case any further evidence comes to light, Mr Earl added.

Reports into how Rotherham Council handled child sexual exploitation have been published this afternoon.

Image source, Rotherham Council

The council commissioned six independent investigations in 2014 and 2015.

This was in response to the findings of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham 1997 to 2013 (the Jay Report), and the Report of Inspection of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (the Louise Casey Report, external).

The findings of the reports are currently being revealed at a meeting in the town led by Lead Commissioner Mary Ney (pictured above, centre).

You can read the full reports and findings here, external.

Jean Imray says children in care in Rotherham were at risk of abuse, not just from outsiders but from others inside the homes.

She says she found "significant failings" and any good practice happening "despite organisation not because of it".

Kevin Larkin
Political reporter, BBC Radio Sheffield

Many cases of alleged abuse in Rotherham were unassessed, says Jean Imray, and those that had been were poorly done and only focused on official information.

There were very few examples of an appropriate level of management supervision of decision-making on child social care at the council, she adds.

She says she would have expected that abuse procedures were triggered - but that didn't happen.

Kevin Larkin
Political reporter, BBC Radio Sheffield

A second report into Rotherham Council's handling of child sexual exploitation is now being presented.

Jean Imray says there was a "weak and inadequate" social service too reliant on police for decisions.

There was "a failure to comply with basically understood procedures" on child protection, she says.

"The issue was a failure to respond to children who were clearly in need of protection," she adds.

Kevin Larkin
Political reporter, BBC Radio Sheffield

There's no evidence of a cover-up at Rotherham Council over child sexual exploitation, "it was more cock-up than conspiracy", it's been claimed.

Presenting the findings of an investigation into conduct of council employees from 1997 to 2013, lawyer Mark Greenburgh says there was no single person most responsible.

He says there was instead a "systemic failure".

He added the council at the time had a "closed culture" which "stifled whistle-blowers".

Kevin Larkin
Political reporter, BBC Radio Sheffield

Lawyer Mark Greenburgh says "no-one turned a blind eye to child sexual exploitation in Rotherham", but no-one took personal responsibility.

Gasps could be heard from the public gallery in Rotherham at this comment.

There were "lapses of memory" and refusals to co-operate which mean people are not taking responsibility, Mr Greenburgh says.

The first report into the handling of the Rotherham sex abuse scandal looks into the behaviour of senior officials.

Lawyer Mark Greenburgh says he was "shocked" at a "shameful" lack of action.

Mr Greenburgh says "we regret strongly" that some former officials and councillors refused to take part in the investigation.

"No stone was unturned and nobody's blushes spared " as part of the investigation, Mr Greenburgh says.

Kevin Larkin
Political reporter, BBC Radio Sheffield

Reports into how aspects of the Rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal have been handled have just been published.

Commissioner Mary Ney has opened a meeting in the town saying "the matters are extremely poignant and will be distressing, especially for survivors and their families."

She adds that Rotherham Council will meet with survivors if they have more questions after reading the reports.

Elly Fiorentini
BBC Local Live, Yorkshire

Farndale is famous for its Band Room and daffodils, but today this tiny village in the North York Moors is celebrating after getting £324,000 from the Big Lottery Reaching Community Building Fund.

Image source, Google

Since 2005, its supporters have been trying raise money to build a new village hall after a survey showed it was beyond repair.

The village hall is a World War Two wooden hut from Duncombe Park. It was donated and moved to the area in the mid 1950s by Earl Feversham.

The lottery money will allow the old building to be knocked down and a new one to be built which will be a community hub for the village.

Earlier, we brought you news that the Leeds-Bradford Interchange-Halifax route had been seriously disrupted following a fire in Bradford next to the line.

That disruption is now expected to continue until about 17:00 this evening, with the possibility of cancellations, delays and diversions, according to National Rail Enquiries:

A man's been seriously injured after been hit by car in Sheffield this morning, external.

The accident happened on Hollybank Road at the junction with Normanton Hill at about 07:30 BST.

The 66-year-old was hit by a black Vauxhall Astra.

Image source, Google

Any witnesses are asked to contact the police on 101.

A team of Aviva workers are setting out on a mammouth cycle this morning in memory of Kelly Brewster who died in the Manchester Arena attack.

Ms Brewster, 32, from Sheffield, was among 22 people killed in the suicide bomb attack at an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena in May.

She had gone to the gig with her sister and niece, both were injured in the explosion.

Image source, Aviva Broker UK

The 100-mile route will see her former colleagues cycle between Aviva's offices in Manchester and Sheffield.

Their aim is to raise £50,000 for Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, external who helped treat Kelly's niece and many other victims after the attack.

Earlier, we brought you updates that crews have a fire by the railway line in Bradford under control and officers are now damping down at the scene.

Emergency services were notified of an incident at a garage at about 09:44 this morning and crews dealt with the fire using six pumps.

Here's some dramatic footage of when the debris from the building involved in the fire spilled on to the Leeds-Bradford-Halifax rail route just outside Bradford Interchange.

Rail services on the Calder Valley route continue to be affected.

Thanks to @Craig_Conductor for letting us use it:

Adam Pope
BBC West Yorkshire Sport

New Leeds United summer signing Pierre-Michel Lasogga has put himself forward for selection to make his debut against Burton this Saturday, despite his girlfriend expecting the birth of their child the following day.

The German striker completed his season-long loan move from Hamburg at the end of last month and is yet to appear for the side.

A brave decision?

Elly Fiorentini
BBC Local Live, Yorkshire

North Yorkshire County Council is to run temporary services on two bus routes that were operated by a company that into liquidation.

The authority will run the Selby-Cawood-York route - and one between Sherburn and Knottingley , which had been run by Utopia, until a longer-term solution is found.

Image source, Utopia coaches

Five men charged over the Hillsborough disaster and its aftermath have appeared in crown court.

The men, including Sir Norman Bettison who was a chief inspector at South Yorkshire Police and later the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, sat in a glass-walled dock at Preston Crown Court in Lancashire.

Image source, Getty Images/EPA

No formal pleas were given in the hearing but their legal teams have indicated they will deny the charges.

Former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing.

Police are looking for witnesse, externals after a motorbike rider was left with serious injuries after an accident near Damflask Reservoir.

It happened on Saturday September on New Road at the junction with Briers House Lane.

Police say a grey Nissan Micra and a white Triumph Triple R motorbike were involved in the accident which left the 59-year-old rider in a serious but stable condition.

The 21-year-old driver of the car was not injured in the accident.

Image source, Google

Jamie Raynor
BBC Yorkshire Live

More now on the on the lineside fire in Bradford which is causing disruption on the Leeds-Bradford Interchange-Halifax route.

I've just spoken to West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue who say the fire on Edwards Street, Bradford, is damping down and under control.

Emergency services were notified of an incident at a garage at around 09:44 this morning and crews dealt with the fire using six pumps.

Officers said the building "was 100% involved in fire and there were explosion risks".

Rail services continue to be suspended on the Calder Valley line, we'll bring you more updates when we get them.