Children in Rochdale care homes 'far from home'

Three quarters of youngsters cared for in Rochdale's children's homes are in places far from their home and family.

Nationally, 46% of are living in homes out of their local authority area, and nearly a third, 30%, are living more than 20 miles from their homes.

A Department for Education report, Children's Homes Data Pack, reveals that some 4,890 children are accommodated in children's homes.

The education secretary has criticised the practice of sending troubled children to "far-flung" children's homes as "indefensible".

It is thought this could make them more vulnerable to potential abusers, as they are away from from their family, friends and social networks.

The report was commissioned following two separate inquiries into the children who go missing from care and face exploitation by gangs. It reveals publicly the locality of children's homes, many of which are now run by private and voluntary providers rather than local authorities themselves.

It was prompted by an abuse case in which nine men from Rochdale and Oldham were jailed in 2012 for running a child sexual exploitation ring. The men, who exploited girls as young as 13, were given sentences of between four and 19 years.