Newham social services' director has expressed her sorrow at the death of two-year-old Ainlee Walker, after the girl's parents were convicted of her manslaughter on Thursday.

Speaking after the case, Kathryn Hudson said: "I want to say again how very sorry we are about Ainlee's death."

She confirmed that an independent inquiry would be undertaken to look at the role of all the agencies involved in the case - after a request from the judge in the case.

Staff were "concerned to understand what had happened and to learn from it", said Ms Hudson.

Ainlee's death has reinforced our recognition that we cannot be satisfied by anything less than the highest standards

Kathryn Hudson

Dennis Henry, 39, and Leanne Labonte, 20, were both found guilty of manslaughter and child cruelty at the Old Bailey.

Henry was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment and Labonte to 10 years' youth detention.

Ms Hudson acknowledged that the department had been criticised in the past and said over the past 18 months it had "worked hard to raise the standard".

'Painful, lonely death'

She added: "Ainlee's death has reinforced our recognition that we cannot be satisfied by anything less than the highest standards."

Even officers with many years' experience have been truly shocked and upset at the evidence and the suffering that this little girl endured

Carole Howlett, Metropolitan Police

Carole Howlett, from the child protection team of the Metropolitan Police, spoke of the shock of officers who had dealt with the case.

She said: "Even officers with many years' experience have been truly shocked and upset at the evidence and the suffering that this little girl endured.

"Ainlee died a painful and lonely death at the hands of her parents - the two people she should have been able to trust," she added.

She said the force was "deeply saddened" by Ainlee's death but stressed that it would always take seriously any allegations of abuse of children.

Destroyed records

"We will continue to thoroughly and fully investigate such claims," she said.

Wendy Thomas, director of nursing in Newham, said Ainlee's parents had been "very difficult, manipulative as well as hostile".

They had stolen and destroyed family health records and used different names to avoid having contact with social and health care services, she said.

"We greatly regret the death of Ainlee," she said.

"We are determined to learn the necessary lessons."