POLICE investigating historic sex abuse at top Hale Barns Catholic school, St Ambrose, have received ‘dozens of calls’ from possible victims and witnesses.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has confirmed that more than 20 possible victims have come forward, but the number could in fact be closer to 50.

GMP is investigating claims that at least five former St Ambrose College teachers committed physical and sexual abuse between the 1960s and early 1990s.

The abuse did not occur on the grounds of the all-boys grammar school and no current staff are under investigation.

As part of the investigation, a 63-year-old Trafford man was arrested on suspicion of indecent assault and possession of indecent images.

The former teacher has been bailed until March 12, pending further enquiries into an incident which allegedly took place in the early 80s.

The reporting of the St Ambrose investigation triggered a separate probe into alleged sexual abuse at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys in the early 1970s.

Police executed a number of warrants in December but no arrests have been made at present.

Commenting on the St Ambrose investigation, Det Insp Jed Pidd, said: "We have received dozens of calls from former pupils reporting historic sexual abuse.

"Reporting such matters is clearly a very difficult and distressing thing to do and we are working hard to support them through this difficult process as best we can.

"We are determined to identify any offenders and have a dedicated team of officers working towards one primary objective: to ensure justice is done.

"It would not be appropriate to divulge the number of potential victims at this time, but they and the wider public can be reassured that we are working closely with the CPS to ensure this complex and wide reaching investigation is dealt with thoroughly and as quickly as possible.

"It is also very important to stress that these are historic allegations with the date of the last alleged incident being in the 1990s, and the school has and continues to provide every support and cooperation with this investigation that it can."