VULNERABLE children are being put at risk of abuse because they are not getting the help they need early enough, a joint inspection has found.

The Care Inspectorate, which published the report, said that staff mostly responded well to signs of neglect but in "a few" cases help was not offered in time.

Some children were also put at greater risk of neglect because vulnerable parents were not getting the support that they needed.

The report on children and young people's services across an entire local authority area found some very good practices but "important weaknesses" in aspects of child protection monitoring.

Teams made up officers from the Care Inspectorate, Education Scotland, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland have been carrying out inspections across East Lothian, where nearly a fifth of the 100,000 population is under 16, since October.

Their findings were in the report which was published yesterday and said: "Once staff recognise the signs that children and young people may be experiencing the adverse effects of neglect, they take effective steps to improve their wellbeing.

"However, a few children who are experiencing neglect are not getting the help they need early enough.

"Staff need to act more effectively at an early stage when there are signs that children and young people are experiencing neglect and poor parenting."

Annette Bruton, chief executive of the Care Inspectorate, said: "By working with our partners we can ensure we build up an accurate picture of how services are performing.

"From our inspections of care services for children and young people we know that the vast ­majority in Scotland are performing well."