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Lambeth Council has said it "deeply regrets" the circumstances that led to losing two brothers in its care system for 10 years.

Responding to a judgment last week at the high court, where a top judge condemned the borough for its "shaming dereliction of duty", Lambeth issued a statement admitting "actions in the past that should have been taken clearly were not".

Mr Justice Munby said the council's handling of the case, in which the two boys were taken into care aged six and three in 1991, was nothing short of "scandalous".

The judge gave his judgment in November last year, but took the unusual step of releasing it for publication. He said the public had a right to know of Lambeth's failings.

The court heard that the boys had been placed in a children's home for four years. The search for an alternative for the pair did not begin until August last year.

Justice Munby said: "I have enormous sympathy for social workers at 'the sharp end', coping as best they can with excessive workloads."

But he added that this could not excuse what had happened.

Lambeth's statement said: "The boys now have agreed care plans. We have put in place contact arrangements for the boys and their family, and have long-term plans."