Two police officers who dealt with allegations that two children had been sexually assaulted in 2004 are to be investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, it was revealed yesterday.

The IPCC said an inquiry would be launched into the conduct of two West Midlands Police o fficers to establish whether they had made every effort to investigate the claims.

The allegations date back to June 2004 and involve claims of sexual assault on two children, aged 12 and 15, by an 18-year-old man.

Commissioner John Crawley said the IPCC had decided to investigate the matter after information was passed to the commission by West Midlands Police.

Mr Crawley said: "Sexual assault on children is an abhorrent crime.

"It is essential that officers dealing with such incidents take every action possible to protect those affected and other potential victims from further abuse.

"Our investigation will seek to establish whether on this occasion the West Midlands officers working on this case explored every avenue available to ensure that the perpetrator did not commit further crimes, and that no other child would suffer in the same way."

Mr Crawley said it would be inappropriate to comment further as there were criminal proceedings pending.