Claims that disgraced television presenter Jimmy Savile abused children at an Islington care home are to be investigated.

The home, which has not yet been named, was included on a list of 21 institutions in England where there are allegations that Savile may have abused youngsters.

The information was uncovered as part of a review by the Met Police and passed on to the Department for Education.

Islington Borough Council will now carry out a full investigation.

In a written statement, Education Secretary Michael Gove said: “The Department for Education has received information about Jimmy Savile relating to several children’s homes and schools in England, dating back to the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. This information was uncovered as part of the document review process undertaken by the Metropolitan Police Service on behalf of the Department of Health.

“Having reviewed the information, I have decided that the Department for Education should pass the information to the appropriate organisations for further investigation. In most cases the work will be conducted by the relevant local authority; in others the relevant institution or a legacy organisation will take the lead.”

Children’s care homes and schools under investigation in other London boroughs include Redbridge, Tower Hamlets, Hounslow and Southwark.

An Islington Council spokeswoman said: “We will carry out a careful and thorough investigation of the information passed to us by the Department for Education.”