The Sailors’ Society, a Christian charity, has apologised over historic child abuse which occurred at one of its homes at Lagarie in Scotland.

The home was the subject of a Disclosure programme on BBC Scotland last night. The documentary chronicles abuse at the home during two separate management regimes more than 40 years ago.

It reports that police investigations were prompted in 2016 by the Sailors’ Society, which ran the home.

The home housed hundreds of children of seafarers. An investigation features reports from former residents of the home who claim they were repeatedly raped by the people who ran it.

Stuart Rivers, chief executive of the Southampton-based charity, was interviewed for the programme and apologised for the abuse that happened.

He said: "I was horrified when I heard these accounts. We do regret any abuse happened and we have apologised unreservedly that this abuse happened."

The BBC reports that the charity is opposed to changes to the law which would allow civil claims, and has said a government scheme is the right method of redress. The Sailors’ Society no longer runs any children’s homes.