Children are well looked after by Merton Council, Government inspectors have found.

The authority's efforts to safeguard children and its work with those in care scored a good rating in all categories in a report released on Friday.

Ofsted inspectors praised strengths including "a strong culture of safeguarding children and young people" among council teams, as well as anti-bullying programmes in schools. They also praised partnership work with other public agencies like health trusts and the police - including strategies to protect children at risk of exploitation or trafficking.

The report made 10 recommendations for improvements - including better communication with the parents of young people.

It also gave a good rating to services for children looked after by the authority, including those in foster care. The report said: "Children’s rights are actively promoted, and children and young people are well supported."

The council is responsible for 133 looked after children, and is supporting 72 young people who have recently left care.

The council's cabinet member for children’s services, Councillor Maxi Martin, said: "We are glad to see the hard work of all our talented staff is appreciated in Ofsted's glowing report, and that our dedication in creating good partnership working, and helping our young people in care to successfully grow into independent adults is paying off."