South Ribble council elects new leader after taxi child sex claims

Mr Mullineaux said he would "work round the clock" to rebuild the council's reputation

A new leader has been elected at a council at the centre of claims children were sexually exploited by taxi drivers.

Councillor Peter Mullineaux will take over from Margaret Smith, who resigned from South Ribble Council in Lancashire this year due to ill health.

Ms Smith had faced calls to quit from her own party over handling of the row.

A review of the council's handling of its taxi licensing investigation found "a major corporate governance failure".

An independent review, leaked to the BBC, found allegations that two children had been sexually exploited by drivers were not dealt with adequately and there was a risk the council was unable to safeguard children.

An audit of taxi driver licence applications last December also found appropriate background checks had not been carried out in relation to 40 working taxi drivers in South Ribble.

Mr Mullineaux said he would "work round the clock" to rebuild the reputation of the administration.

"There's no doubt that it has been an extremely difficult time for the authority in recent months, and I regret any instances where residents feel we have not lived up to the high standards they rightly expect," he said.

"What is important now is that we learn valuable lessons from what has happened and start to push forward and really look to the future."

Mr Mullineaux takes over from Colin Clark, who stepped in as acting leader following Ms Smith's resignation in July.

Mr Clark will now serve as deputy leader.