SHOCK, anger and shame have greeted horrific allegations of years of sexual abuse and physical cruelty at a care home near Helensburgh - and led to calls for other abuse survivors to come forward and seek help.

The Disclosure programme on Monday evening laid bare the stories of several people who say they were abused as children at the former Lagarie House home in Rhu.

The chief executive of the Sailors’ Society, which ran Lagarie until it closed in 1986, apologised for the abuse suffered by those who told their harrowing stories in the course of the 40-minute programme.

Charities working with abuse victims say they hope more people will come forward as a result of the programme.

Mary Glasgow, interim chief executive of Children 1st, Scotland’s national children’s charity, said: “If you’ve been abused as a child, it is incredibly courageous to speak out about what happened to you.

“Talking can make a difference and we encourage anyone affected by the latest allegations to seek support.

“Investing in trauma recovery services for survivors of abuse is as important as acknowledging what happened.

“With the right kind of support you can move forward and put the past behind you.”

Kath Stipala from NAPAC, a charity which supports adults recovering from abuse suffered in childhood, added: “Our approach is that it’s very much up to individuals to decide what is right for them, whether that is one-to-one counselling, help in accessing education or other forms of support.

“We don’t tell people that they should or should not speak out, but we do notice a correlation between media coverage of abuse and people coming forward, especially if survivors’ stories are told sensitively, and I think lots of people will do that if they know how to do it.”

Police Scotland confirmed that the former Strathclyde force investigated allegations of abuse at Lagarie in the early 2000s, but no charges were brought as a result.

Helensburgh’s MP, Brendan O’Hara, told the Advertiser: “I am horrified to hear of the allegations that were aired in the BBC documentary and appalled that it is only now we are hearing about it.

“I would strongly encourage anyone affected to come forward and speak to someone who can help. Please don’t suffer in silence.”

The area’s MSP, Jackie Baillie, said: “It is heart-breaking that children that were in care in Rhu, Shandon and Cardross were made to suffer such shocking abuse at the hands of those who were supposed to be caring for them.

“I hope that the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry’s investigation will bring a sense of closure for some of the victims.

“It is right and proper that the inquiry has been given more time to ensure that their investigation is thorough, but the inquiry will therefore need more resources.

“I hope that the Scottish Government will consider making extra resources available to help the inquiry with their additional investigation, not least to support the victims in telling their story.”

Conservative West of Scotland MSP Maurice Corry, who lives in Helensburgh, added: “I was absolutely shocked and saddened to learn of the investigation into historic child abuse within and around Helensburgh.

“My thoughts are with the victims and their families.

“People shouldn’t need to have lived through this abuse. It is only right that the people responsible are held to account, and that we as a society don’t allow this to happen again.”

If you are a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, you can contact NAPAC for advice and support on 0808 801 8331 or online at napac.org.uk.

You can also contact Children 1st on 0131 446 2300 or cfs@children1st.org.uk.