Canada's largest Protestant church, the United Church of Canada, has apologised to the country's native people for the physical and sexual abuse that many native children suffered in its boarding schools.

The apology came a week after evidence emerged suggesting Church and government officials knew about the abuse as early as 1960, but did nothing to stop it.

A BBC correspondent in Canada says the admission may be significant as hundreds of victims are suing Canadian churches for compensation.

Earlier this year, the Canadian government issued a similar apology and made funds available to tackle the social and psychological problems caused by the schools.