Bath and North East Somerset Council is reviewing social service care given to children at risk in Bath.

Despite receiving second place in a national Government survey of social service care for children, the council failed to check on seven at risk cases within the set time limit.

Social and housing services director Jane Ashman said: "In reality only seven children were not reviewed within the strict six-month deadline, and all of them were reviewed within a very short period afterwards."

She was keen to point out that measures have been taken to address this shortcoming.

Ms Ashman said: "One area where the council has already taken remedial steps is the processing of reviews of child protection cases.

"All reviews should be completed within a six month deadline, the council now plans to hold reviews every five and a half months."

B&NES Council was placed second in a national government survey of social service care for children.

Figures in the performance assessment framework for social services show that 70 per cent of children in care in Bath are gaining five GCSE's or more.

The topical issue of adoption is identified in the report as having improved between 1999 and 2000.

Adults and children are said to receive better health care, including preventative care carried out by Bath's social services for children.

Mrs Ashman said: "This data tells a story of steady improvement. There are some excellent results, offering positive comparisons with other authorities."

Despite a drop in emergency hospital admissions for older people, B&nes is reviewing time limits set for child protection cases.