A Silsden mum says she was given a job at a school without any checks on her background.

She started work as a kitchen assistant at the primary school within three days of being interviewed.

Neither of the referees she named on the application form -- which she was asked to complete at the interview -- was contacted.

And no checks with the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) were carried out.

The revelation has sparked outrage, particularly in the wake of the Ian Huntley case. He got a job as a school caretaker at Soham, despite having been the subject of a string of complaints to the police about alleged sexual offences, and went on to kill.

The mum -- who has just left the job at a school in the Bradford district -- said: "My husband had contacted the school on my behalf to say I was looking for part-time work in the kitchen.

"I got a phone call one Friday to ask if I could attend an interview that morning. They said they were desperately short of staff. I went in for the interview, was told I had the job and could start on Monday.

"There was an application form I was asked to complete, but there was no mention of any checks needing to be carried out, and I know for a fact that the two referees whose details I provided were never approached. At the time I didn't think too much about it, but I was talking with my dad and he expressed concerns that such a situation was arising in schools."

She added: "I have three children myself, plus nieces and nephews, and I would not like to think that people who have not been properly vetted could be in daily contact with them. It would be easy for anyone so inclined to build a friendship with a child and take advantage of that situation."

Her father, Laurie Sloan, also, from Silsden, said he was appalled at the lack of checks.

He said a similar situation had arisen with his other daughter when she had applied for a school kitchen job.

He said: "If it has happened in both those cases, how many other times is it occurring in schools?

"I manage a private nursing home and anyone working in that home has to undergo rigorous checks.

"I find it quite frightening that people are getting jobs working with children without having undergone any vetting.

"I have lots of grandchildren and I don't know what I would do if anything happened to them."

Education Contract Services (ECS) -- which employs schools kitchen staff -- said that in respect of CRB checks, it closely followed national guidelines which currently don't require every prospective school catering employee to be routinely checked.

It claimed referees were always contacted, although people may be appointed subject to references. But it couldn't comment on individual cases.

Neil Stoddart, head of ECS, said: "Our general policy on CRB checking is in line with the latest national guidelines. All jobs and people applying for them are reviewed against a stringent risk assessment. This covers issues such as whether they will have direct contact with children and if they will be working alone or under supervision. A decision is then taken on whether a full CRB check is required.

"Anyone who declares a previous conviction of any kind on their application form is automatically CRB checked. We review our employment procedures constantly to ensure they meet changes to national guidelines."

A CRB spokesman said that some jobs by law required full checks to be carried out on any applicants, but in most other cases it was for the employer to decide depending on the level of direct contact with -- and access to -- children.

He added that an inquiry was currently under way in the wake of the Huntley case and any recommendations from that would be acted upon.