CHILD slaves being traded at markets in poor African nations are being brought to Britain, it was revealed today.

An investigation by the BBC revealed that children can be bought and sold at so called ''maid markets'' and taken abroad to countries including Britain - some ending up abused by their new ''parents''.

Investigators found they could easily bribe officials in return for official papers that would allow them to take the children abroad.

Young children are promised a life of luxury and good education by distant relatives or family friends and their penniless parents agree to let them go, thinking they are doing what's best for them.

Media investigation

But in many cases the dream ends seconds after they get off the plane - some are used as domestic slaves, others are beaten, and some end up the victims of paedophiles.

Journalists working for the BBC's Today programme travelled to the Ivory Coast to investigate the death of Victoria Climbie, who was taken from the country's capital Abidjan to Britain by her aunt Marie Therese Kouao in the spring of 1999.

The youngster was tied up and made to lie naked in a freezing cold bath in winter, beaten and burned.

When she died, after seven months of torture, she had 128 injuries on her body.

An inquiry is under way to find out how Victoria, eight, ended up being the victim of her cruel aunt and her lover, Clinton Manning, who were both jailed for life.

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