Jersey police set to enter cellar

Police in Jersey investigating allegations of child abuse are expected to break in to a second underground chamber at a former children's home.

A sniffer dog, trained to find human remains, reacted "strongly" when it was sent into the first hidden cellar at Haut de la Garenne on Wednesday.

Senior police said the reaction was similar to when a child's remains were found at the home on Saturday.

More than 160 people have called police to say they were abused at the home.

'Fits descriptions'

Jersey deputy chief police officer Lenny Harper said the force had received 70 calls from people mentioning a cellar.

"It would appear as if the cellar is exactly as some of the witnesses who've made statements to us, and victims have described," he told reporters.

He said he hoped to break in to the second chamber on Thursday, and said an anthropologist and an archaeologist would work in the first chamber.

"Some of the bricking up appears suspicious but there could be an innocent explanation for it"

Officers have already gained partial access to the first cellar after structural engineers assessed the safety of the building.

It is understood the second chamber is the same size as the first - about 12ft square and 8ft high - and is also bricked up.

Mr Harper said: "Some of the bricking up appears suspicious but there could be an innocent explanation for it.

"The initial look at what is in there certainly corroborates some of the victims."

The cellars are among six areas at the site identified for further investigation by officers.

Inquiries have so far uncovered 40 suspects and prompted 200 phone calls from alleged victims and witnesses.

The NSPCC said it had received more than 100 calls from adults reporting allegations of child abuse in Jersey.

More than a third of the calls were made in the last two days and 45 have been referred to the States of Jersey police, the charity said.