MP Jackie Doyle-Price is furious with the way Jacky and Cheryl's social care case was dealt with.

She said: “My office twice asked the head of service to satisfy herself the council had acted appropriately.

“This did not lead to any real challenge, with the result that Jack and Cheryl had to wait until the case came before the court.

“Sadly, it isn’t the first time I have witnessed inacuracies in notes made by social workers which are then treated as fact causing considerable distress to those concerned.

“I want Thurrock Council to make sure procedures are in place to ensure child protection procedures are just and have integrity.”

She added that the council has argued the court would not have approved the first care order unless the action was fair.

But she said: “However, the papers filed in court by the council contained untruths which Jack and Cheryl could not challenge.

“Thurrock Council owe this family a huge apology. While we can be pleased that finally the truth came out, Jack and Cheryl have lost the first year of Misty's life.”