Child protection workers were "paralysed" with fear by the parents of two-year-old Ainlee Walker, who was starved and tortured by the couple, an independent report has said.

Dennis Henry and Leanne Labonte, from Newham, east London, were convicted in September of the manslaughter of Ainlee.

When she was found dead in January this year, she was covered in 64 scars, scabs and bruises having suffered cigarette burns and being made to stand in scalding water.

But the report into the tragedy by the Newham Area Child Protection Committee (ACPC), paints a picture of fear, intimidation and manipulation created by the parents, which "isolated Ainlee from all those people who could have protected her."

Leanne Labonte received a 10-year sentence

The report calls for priority to be given to training people involved in child protection in how to deal with dangerous and violent people.

It also calls for each agency to re-assess its record keeping to stop any other child being lost track of, as happened with Ainlee.

Labonte, 20, was sentenced at the Old Bailey to 10 years, while Henry, 39, was jailed for 12 years, for killing the toddler.

The court heard that Ainlee had been subjected to a systematic campaign of cruelty which had left her looking like a famine victim and too weak to eat.

During sentencing, the judge in the case said: "I have no doubt that little Ainlee cried and cried, until she could cry no more."

Wednesday's report said staff at Newham social services failed to make a scheduled visit to Ainlee's home in the week before her death and they had not seen her in the five months before she died.

Dennis Henry was violent to health staff

Police figures also showed that in the 18 months before Ainlee's death, they had been called out to the family 53 times, 32 of those were for domestic violence.

Helen Kenward, an independent consultant and expert on child protection issues, said in her report: "One by one the agencies withdrew for personal safety issues. Health visitors would not visit the home.

"The communication between the agencies was not constructive.

"The fear with which the family are regarded leads to almost paralysis in terms of action."

After the report was published she told a news conference: "Child protection is about the child and the child can get lost.

"Ainlee got lost in that process."

She recommended a greater need to focus on direct work with children and families.

"If people keep in their head - 'if I am anxious, nervous, concerned frightened of this family then what must it be like for a child to live there' - then direct work becomes a focus."

There were many incidents where the parents assaulted or intimidated staff, and one doctor asked for police protection when they visited his surgery.

Kathryn Hudson, Director of Newham Social Services, said: "Ainlee's death was a tragic event and I would like to convey the deep distress and sorrow of all the agencies involved.

"I would also like to reassure everyone that steps are being taken to try to prevent such a tragedy happening again."

David Behan, President of the Association of Directors of Social Services, speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, said: "The responsibility of protecting children rests with all the agencies, but we are the lead agency and we will not shirk that responsibility.

"The answers lie in investing for the future. This is an undervalued profession and we need to increase its status.

"One of the ways to do this is to equip people with the competencies and skills to undertake this difficult and complicated job."