Longstanding calls for a full public inquiry into mental health deaths in Norfolk and Suffolk have handed a major boost.

The Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is facing fresh scrutiny over losing track of the number of patients that have died under its care - along with allegations that a report into this was "watered down".

Pleas for a public inquiry into how the trust has allowed so many of its patients to die have been frequently made in recent years - with campaigners taking their calls to Westminster last year.

But as bosses of the embattled trust faced a volley of questions over its latest scandal, the calls were handed a significant boost.

Members of the Norfolk health overview and scrutiny committee (HOSC), a cross-party body responsible for challenging health bosses in the region, has voted to back the calls for an inquiry.

If it goes ahead, it is hoped it will have the same powers to compel evidence given to the looming inquiry into murders committed by nurse Lucy Letby at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Last year, campaigners travelled to Westminster to lobby for the inquiry, but the backing of the HOSC gives extra strength to the calls.

Eastern Daily Press: Cath Byford, deputy chief executive of NSFT

Earlier in the meeting, Cath Byford, deputy chief executive of NSFT also admitted to providing incorrect information to the same committee in September last year.

She said: "Last September when I attended HOSC, I believed at the time that the independent report would be able to provide a single version of the truth in terms of the data.

"I also believed we had confidence in the mortality data in the organisation.

"The statements I made, I believed, but I do recognise on reflection ... what I said about the independent review coming to a clear conclusion of that data was not correct.

"I hope there is confidence going forward in what we and I say personally in relation to maintaining that trusting relationship."