OUTSIDE experts have been asked to probe overspending on social services by Kirklees Council.

Leaders of the Tory and Labour groups teamed up to make the demand after making claims of a £28m `black hole'.

The issue surfaced towards the end of last year, when it was revealed that spending on care had risen sharply.

Now - with local elections just weeks away - Tories and Labour are stepping up attacks on the Liberal Democrat leaders of the council.

Tory leader Clr Robert Light said: "This financial crisis is extremely worrying.

"The overspend was not reported for six months and nothing was done for eleven months."

Labour leader Clr Mehboob Khan said: "Cash cannot be diverted from elsewhere to pay for the Lib-Dems' failure.

"They should have seen this overspend coming.

"They should have taken action earlier."

The Lib-Dems, who are running the hung council after a power-sharing deal fell apart, have denied claims of a huge financial black hole.

Clr Kath Pinnock, the council's Lib-Dem leader, said: "The increased demands facing social services are not a new issue.

"Nor are they exclusive to Kirklees.

"All local authorities are in a similar position of meeting the increasing needs of vulnerable people."