GLASGOW’S top social work boss has said there is no evidence child sex exploitation was covered up in Govanhill.

Last month claims were made that police and social work knew Roma children from the community were being sold for sex on the street but did nothing to stop it.

Now Susanne Miller, chief social work officer, has told local officials that the suggestion child sexual abuse (CSE) has been ignored is unfounded.

In a report to the Govanhill Regeneration Group, Ms Miller wrote: "There is no evidence to support a view that CSE was ignored or covered up in Govanhill or elsewhere in our City by either Police Scotland or SWS."

Local residents were quoted in a London paper as saying they had been propositioned for sex in public by Roma children while an anonymous social worker said Roma parents are "pimping" their children on the street.

In response, specialist officers from the National Child Abuse Investigation Unit are now investigating claims.

Ms Miller's report adds: "The recent press coverage about CSE in Govanhill included allegations about CSE which we have now established have never been made by the individuals we are aware of who spoke to the reporter to either Police Scotland or Social Work Services.

"We are aware with colleagues in Police Scotland that CSE does happen in Govanhill and over the past five years young people from that area and alleged perpetrators have featured in our joint investigations.

"We have worked with young people in the area to protect them from exploitation, in the context of our city wide work."

The report to Regeneration Group says that since 2013 Glasgow's Social Work Services has been involved in three large scale CSE investigations led by Police Scotland.

Some 100 children across the city have since been identified as at risk of or a victim of sexual exploitation.

So far there have been three successful prosecutions but the last large scale operation, which ended in 2016, reported 22 individuals to the Procurator Fiscal.

Police Scotland has said it will interview everyone who provided statements about children being "pimped" on the streets and is actively encouraging residents with information to come forward.

Local councillor Mhairi Hunter has also put forward the suggestion a multi-agency group on CSE should be established for Govanhill.

This would mirror the existing city-wide multi-agency group for CSE but be specific to the South Side community.

A community engagement event is planned for March 2018 to, the report adds, "bring together local leaders, organisations and services to provide information."