Police have spoken to 74 people who spent time in a care home as part of an investigation into sexual and physical abuse at a hospital.

Hertfordshire Constabulary is investigating reports of an abuse scandal at the Hill End Adolescent Unit, which is believed to have gone on from 1969 to 1995.

Police say 65 people came forward made allegations about the way they were treated at the unit.

Others are witnesses or made a third party report.

Nobody has been arrested in connection with the alleged incidents.

Detective Chief Inspector Jerome Kent, said: “This is a complex investigation and we have always expected it to be a long process.

“A significant amount of work has been carried out since the start of this investigation in November 2017 by a specialist team of officers.

“They are dedicated to establishing exactly what happened to children who stayed at Hill End Adolescent Unit.”

Police officers have now spoken to 74 people who spent time at mental health hospital.

65 of them made actual allegations, the others were witnesses or made a third party report.

No one has yet to be arrested in connection to what went on at the Hill End Adolescent Unit in St Albans.

Inspector Kent said: “We are continuing to work with our partners in the health service to ensure that, where required, support is offered to those who have been affected by this investigation and to fully explore the allegations that have been made.”

The hospital, in the Highfield Park area of St Albans, took patients from the London and Hertfordshire area.

It was closed in 1995 and is now the site of a housing development.

An email monitored seven days a week - opmeadow@herts.pnn.police.uk - has been set up for anyone who would like to speak to police about this matter.