Two social workers at the heart of the Victoria Climbie child abuse scandal have been sacked for gross misconduct.

Lisa Arthurworrey and her manager Angella Mairs have been dismissed by Haringey Council in north London following disciplinary proceedings.

Both were suspended on full pay a month after eight-year-old Victoria was murdered by her great aunt, Marie Therese Kouao and Kouao's boyfriend Carl Manning in February 2000.

But disciplinary proceedings were postponed after they won a High Court ruling that they would be allowed to give evidence at the public inquiry first.

Ms Arthurworrey has lodged an appeal

During the inquiry Miss Arthurworrey was described as an inexperienced junior social worker.

In 2000 she was suspended over claims that she did not carry out proper checks on Victoria.

She told the inquiry last year that during the seven months she was responsible for Victoria's well-being, she saw her for a total of 30 minutes.

Ms Mairs was suspended over claims she removed a vital document from Victoria's file before the police and council investigations into the little girl's death.

She denied these allegations during the inquiry.

Final report

A council spokesman said: "They were both dismissed for gross misconduct following two separate confidential hearings.

"Ms Arthurworrey was dismissed on 17 September after a two-day hearing and Ms Mairs was dismissed on 19 September after a one-day hearing."

He added that Miss Arthurworrey has lodged an appeal against her dismissal.

Victoria died after months of abuse with 128 separate injuries on her body.

The inquiry into Victoria's death heard that she could have been saved if failings in the Haringey social services had been highlighted earlier.

Lord Laming, chairman of the public inquiry into her death, is expected to publish his final report at the end of this year.