It has been made clear to staff that every time we get a referral call that a child has been hit, they must go immediately to check it out

David Wright, director of social services

Seven weeks before she died, worried neighbours alerted social workers that Lauren was being abused.

On Tuesday its director said he would not resign.

Mr Wright said: "I don't think my resignation or that of any of the senior managers will protect any children in Norfolk.

"It will make a very difficult situation even less stable and less safe for children."

'Everybody's business'

The NSPCC is now consulting on proposals for child commissioners to monitor the work of social workers and other child protection agencies.

The charity is also urging members of the public to act if they have concerns about a child.

Chief executive Mary Marsh said: "Protecting children cannot be left to the professionals alone.

"Child protection is everybody's business - it requires a partnership between politicians, professionals and members of the public.

"It relies on all of us looking out for children's welfare and acting on any concerns we may have."

Staff resignation

Lauren is the third child brought to Norfolk social service's attention to die in the past four years.

Four-month-old Kristian Bebbington was on the department's "at risk of neglect" register when he died in 1999.

David Wright will not resign

Investigations had already begun into five-year-old Lauren Creed's circumstances when she died in 1997.

One member of staff has already resigned as a result of the case.

Mr Wright said staff had done everything that needed to be done when they were first alerted.

Mr Wright said they were misled when a paediatrician, who had seen Lauren on 20 March, concluded that the bruises on her body were compatible with the parents' explanation.

He said: "The case was taken from red alert to amber alert and that was wrong.

"The bigger mistake was when we had a further inquiry and failed to visit Lauren immediately."

Public inquiry

"It was a serious mistake and it has been made clear to staff that every time we get a referral call that a child has been hit, they must go immediately to check it out."

Mr Wright said that 12% of the social services posts in Norfolk were vacant and there was a national shortage of social workers.

He added that steps were being taken to recruit social workers from Australia to stem the shortage.

Officials from the department of health have ruled out a public inquiry into the case.

But West Norfolk MP Gillian Shepherd said she is still hopeful of forcing an official investigation.