Tower Hamlets council in east London bought the tickets for its children’s services director Isobel Cattermole and her deputy, Ann Canning, to travel to Manchester last July.

They attended the annual conference of the Association of Directors for Children’s Services, by using open returns from London’s Euston, the most expensive tickets available, costing £427.50 each on Virgin Trains.

However, the directors, who both earn around £116,000 a year, were given first class open returns on Virgin Rail, the most expensive tickets available, costing £427.50 each.

The spending, described by a minister as “disgraceful”, would have bought two return airfares from London to New York, with change to spare.

Tower Hamlets is the poorest borough in Britain where more than half of all secondary pupils receive free school meals.