TWO more men have been arrested and charged by police investigating allegations of child abuse at a former North Yorkshire children's home.

In separate cases, Bruce Clark, 68, of Scarthingwell Park, Barkston Ash, near Tadcaster, and David Peake, 57, of Forest Hill Road, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, are each accused of committing a number of offences at the former St Camillus School, Scarthingwell, near Tadcaster.

Clark is charged with committing one serious sexual offence between 1975 and 1977, and six indecent assaults between 1973 and 1975.

He will appear before York Crown Court on Monday for a plea and directions hearing.

Peake is accused of eight assaults causing actual bodily harm between 1979 and 1983, two indecent assaults between 1975 and 1977, and one wounding between 1975 and 1977. Selby magistrates remanded him on unconditional bail last week for committal proceedings to take place on April 5.

The Evening Press reported in the autumn how a major police investigation, dubbed Operation Courier, was under way into allegations of physical and sexual assault against boys at the school, which closed many years ago.

The allegations dated back to the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and it was believed that more than 200 former residents at the school had been interviewed over the previous 12 months by a team of police officers dedicated to the inquiry.

The Roman Catholic Church, which was responsible for St Camillus, said it was co-operating fully with police.

Two other men appeared separately before Selby magistrates late last year, each accused of offences at the school.

Updated: 10:52 Friday, March 01, 2002