A top councillor in Greenwich has defended the council’s record after an investigation found hundreds of vulnerable children in the care system are being housed outside the borough.

The findings of a Freedom of Information act submitted by the Local Democracy Scheme were brought up last week at a council meeting as the deputy leader was asked what more the authority could do.

It comes after it was revealed that children in care are living up to 300 miles from Greenwich in Devon, Liverpool and Lancashire, costing the council £20m a year.

An average of 550 looked-after children a year have been placed outside the borough since 2013, with some kids moved more than once.

Some children have been moved as far away as Newcastle Upon Tyne, Oldham and St Helens.

The FoI request revealed that 102 different authorities have been used in the last six years, dozens of which are outside the usual 20-mile radius used by councils.

At a full council meeting last week, Conservative councillor Pat Greenwell asked deputy leader Cllr David Gardner: “The recent figures disclosed as the result of an FOI show an average of 550 looked after children have been placed outside the borough since 2013 with 102 different authorities being used at a cost of £20m a year.

“I know children are placed at a greater distance if its best placed to meet their needs but these figures are very disturbing. Can we as an authority do more?”

Wiltshire, Wales, Cornwall and Devon have all be utilised at least once in the last five years, according to an investigation by the Local Democracy Reporting service.

Earlier this year an all-party parliamentary group raised concerns that children living in distant placements were more likely to go missing and were at a higher risk of physical and sexual abuse, criminality and homeless.

The deputy leader, and cabinet member for education and children, said that there was “significant pressures” all over the country when it comes to kids in care.

Cllr Gardner said: “Clearly across the country, children’s social care and particularly the cost of residential care has been a very significant pressure. It’s also a pressure in Greenwich, not quite as much a financial pressure as the average across England.

“Obviously being a London borough many children necessarily are placed out of borough. Many foster carers are In Lewisham or Bexley or further into Kent because that is the right match for them.”

He added: “With residential care we have to balance the objectives doing what is the best for the child which is as near as possible which is not always best, and financial constraints.

“We are part of the south London innovation scheme and we are working hard to bear down on the highest costs. Whilst we have reduced the amount of looked after children by six per cent, the costs particularly of the high needs children in residential care continues to go up.

“I look forward to working with officers to bear down on these costs whilst at the same time making sure we get the best for our children.”