Two Haringey Council social workers sacked over the Baby P tragedy have lost their claim for unfair dismissal.

Gillie Christou and Maria Ward claimed they were unjustly fired following public outcry about 17-month-old Peter Connelly's horrific death.

But an employment tribunal panel ruled the local authority had acted reasonably because of serious failings in their care of the child.

Baby Peter was found dead in a blood-spattered cot in Tottenham, on August 3, 2007.

He had suffered more than 50 injuries, including eight broken ribs, while on the council's children at-risk register despite 60 visits from social workers, police and health professionals.

Ms Ward was Peter's nominated social worker from February 2007 until his death. Mrs Christou was her team manager.

The pair were sacked after an investigation which revealed there was a period in mid-2007 when they did not know where the child was.

Peter's mother claimed she had taken him to visit her sick uncle in Cricklewood, despite being told to return home.

Ms Ward was also found to have failed to meet a requirement to see him at least once a fortnight.

The employment tribunal panel concluded there was "no doubt" that "whilst there may have been media pressure and political pressure and those involved had in mind the tragic death of Peter Connelly", Haringey council was justified in sacking both Mrs Christou and Ms Ward.

"It is not in our view the case that those involved in the appeal panels bowed to the pressure to which we have referred", the panel said.