FAMILIES who claim their children died due to a social services' department's failings today reacted with shock and anger after it was given a top rating by the Government.

The four families -- along with the relative of a 12-year-old prostitute who became pregnant while in Blackburn with Darwen Council's care -- spoke after it was revealed the department had gained three stars from the Social Services Inspectorate. The inspection helped the council improve on its Audit Commission rating, produced as part of an annual national survey of the country's top 150 authorities.

Overall, the council was judged to have bettered last year's "excellent" after social services and education departments were given improved marks.

But, despite five high profile cases in the past two years, its social services department was given a three out of three star rating after this autumn's review -- an increase of one star from last year.

The review looked at how the department was run, including its systems and procedures for care for children and adults.

Now at least four of the five families plan to hand deliver a Christmas card to the authority's chief executive Phil Watson and its head of social services, who declined to comment on the families' reaction.

The card, which is due to be presented at the town hall next week, reads, "To Phil Watson and Stephen Sloss, have a merry Christmas, it's a pity our children can't."

The council's social services department was given its three-star rating after an inspection this autumn and continual assessment since its last inspection in the autumn of 2002.

In September, it was revealed that a 12-year-old became pregnant after absconding from a council care home 39 times.

When asked to comment on the performance of social services, based on information about her niece which was already in the public domain, her aunt said: "I think the rating is a load of rubbish. The whole thing was handled very badly.

"It is disgusting, someone should have stepped in a lot sooner."

Carrie-Ann Brown, 14, of Darwen, died following a car crash on the M6 after being driven away from her foster home in the Whitebirk area of Blackburn on August 14.

After her death, social services said an inquiry would be held but it has not yet begun.

Her father Sean Brown has since been charged with the attempted murder and rape of his daughter.

The teenager, from Darwen, had been placed with foster carers by Blackburn with Darwen Council social services.

Her mother Tracy Brown said: "I asked them to protect my daughter. I can't see how anyone could say they have improved."

Shane Cook died on March 16 this year when a car he was travelling in with four friends hit trees off Preston New Road near Samlesbury at 1am.

He was living at a Blackburn with Darwen Council home in Anchor Avenue, Darwen, and had repeatedly absconded from care. Social services did not know who he was out with on the night of his death, when he broke a curfew.

His father Wayne Cook said: "I don't know where this idea of excellence has come from. I think it's disgusting and they have a nerve to be trumpeting this with everything that's happened over the last two years, even the last 12 months.

"They haven't answered any of my questions and the level of service I have had is more like minus-three stars."

Carole Rigby's 18-year-old son Anthony, of Swift Close, Blackburn, died of a single gunshot to the head that was fired by his friend, Mark Harrington in January 2002.

In a report into Anthony's death published last week, social services were found to be irresponsible in its care of Mark, 19, of St James Road, Blackburn, who suffered from mental illness and has been detained indefinitely after admitting manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The report also said the council failed to provide Mark with the care the needed.

Although her son was killed while the council still had a two star social service department, Mrs Rigby said: "I can't see that anything has changed. As far as I am concerned they are not doing their job properly, so how can they be judged as excellent?"

Sue Strickson's daughter Melissa, of Tythebarn Street, Darwen, died after taking drugs at the home of a self styled 'white witch' in October 2001. Sue and husband Vic had pleaded with social services for their daughter to be placed in secure accommodation after repeatedly running away from home and said the tragedy wouldn't have happened if they had been listened to.

A council report into the case later concluded that taking Melissa into care wouldn't have been the answer to the family's problems.

Mrs Strickson said: "They have lost three children and another boy has been killed by a teenager who was being looked after by members of their social services department.

"All this in two small Lancashire towns, so I don't see how anyone can call that an improvement. It's disgraceful that this has happened in a very small population. It's insulting to the memory of the children and to the parents."

Chief executive of Blackburn with Darwen Council Phil Watson said the rating was a matter for the Social Services Inspectorate.

A spokesman for the Social Services Inspectorate said: "It is a concern when any child dies but, based on evidence from inspections and reviews of performance indicators, we concluded that Blackburn with Darwen should be given three star rating."

Darwen MP Janet Anderson refused to be drawn on the issue but Blackburn MP Jack Straw said: "What you have to realise is that Social Services and social workers deal with some of the most difficult children that there are.

"They have to pick up the pieces of appalling parenting. This is very difficult but I believe that Blackburn Social Services Department in general does a very good job.

"Where there are failings they have to be exposed but I think we should be very grateful for all the work that Blackburn social workers do in often incredibly difficult circumstances."

Colin Rigby, leader of the council's opposition Conservative group said: "I would like to know how the three star rating was achieved, particularly in light of the five serious cases we have had in the last two years.

Coun Paul McGurty, the Conservative's social services spokesman, said: "This sort of rating suggests that all is well within Social Services, when there are things that are quite clearly shortcomings, especially in light of five major and serious incidents involving children that have taken place. There are things within the department that are wrong and simply to try and portray otherwise is an insult to everyone that depends on their services."