School goes into liquidation after abuse allegations

A special educational needs school in North Devon, which closed in the Summer amidst allegations of abuse, has gone into liquidation at the request of its directors. Chelfham Mill near Barnstaple has now handed back its licence to operate and been wound up.

Chelfham Mill was a boarding and day school for around forty boys with emotional and behavioural problems. It's licence was suspended for six weeks in July while the abuse claims were investigated.

But one family have told ITV News that their son has nosedived since leaving the school. Elaine Chichester says her autistic son Charlie was coping at Chelfham and enjoyed being at school. She never heard or knew of any suggestions that there was anything wrong with the school.

A police investigation is underway with many of the accusations believed to be historic. Ofsted came in to shut the school and it's believed that the way the school was operating was a major reason why it was closed.