Inquiry launched into girl's death

The Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board, which considers every child death, met to discuss Khyra Ishaq, who died in hospital on Saturday.

Following the multi-agency meeting, the board said: "Any child's death is a tragedy and our thoughts are with Khyra's family and friends at this difficult time."

It added: "Following a meeting ... the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board (BSCB) have now commenced a serious case review, an independent examination into the circumstances surrounding the death of Khyra."

The statement, released by Birmingham City Council, continued: "Local Safeguarding Children Boards have a statutory duty to review all child deaths, particularly those that appear to be due to abuse or neglect. We have started this process, however the BSCB are mindful of the ongoing criminal and coroner's investigations.

"The full report of this serious case review will be sent to the Department for Children, Schools and Families and Ofsted for scrutiny. The findings of this review will be made public in due course following the completion of the criminal process."

Police are still awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination on Khyra's body, but sources have said the youngster is believed to have died of starvation.

She and her five siblings are reported to have been in an emaciated state when paramedics were called to their home in Leyton Road, in the Handsworth area of Birmingham. It has also been claimed that some of the children may have eaten scraps of bread left out for birds in their neighbour's garden.

The decision to launch a serious case review comes after Birmingham City Council was branded "heartless" by a local MP.

Labour MP Khalid Mahmood accused the council of taking a "head-in-the-sand approach" and said it needed to do more to reassure the local community.