The government is sending a commissioner to oversee Surrey's children's services following last week's damning Ofsted report.

Inspectors found children were suffering domestic abuse because of failings in the system and rated the service as "inadequate".

The county council's cabinet member for children Clare Curran said she had met with the Department for Education, and had received a letter from children's minister Nadhim Zahawi.

She told councillors at a full meeting on Tuesday, May 22, the commissioner will "consider whether proper conditions are in place for children's services to improve".

The as yet unnamed commissioner will likely be in place by the end of June for three months, and report his or her findings to the government.

Cllr Curan said: "We fully accept the findings in the report are a fair reflection of our services, and acknowledge that the support we give to children and their families simply is not good enough."

She also pointed to new executive director for children, families and learning Dave Hill having been brought in on April 30.

Mr Hill has come to Surrey from Essex County Council, which has "outstanding" children's services, and he has recently worked to improve services with Birmingham and Norfolk councils.

New leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition Councillor Chris Botten said: "I welcome the decision for commissioners to work in Surrey over the next three months.

"The county council needs a laser-like focus in improving these vital services for the children of Surrey and the work of the commissioners will aid this process.

"The leader of the council and the cabinet member have rightly spoken about the need for urgent change and I share their passion. But this most recent judgement from Ofsted means that my patience for change is at an end. The children of Surrey deserve the highest standard of services."