An 82-year-old man has been arrested and charged with seven counts of indecent assault after a child abuse probe at a Birmingham children's home.

West Midlands Police and Birmingham Social Services launched the investigation last week.

It follows allegations of offences allegedly committed on boys at the Tennall Assessment Centre, on the outskirts of Birmingham, between 1979 and 1983. The home was closed in 1985.

A police spokeswoman said: "The alleged incidents are not being linked to the North Wales child abuse inquiry.

"The man, a former employee at the home, has been granted conditional bail until his appearance in court."

Confidential line

She added that a telephone line has been set up for "any individual who may have been placed at that unit, or may have had a child there or who worked there".

"Any of these individuals can talk to us confidentially about their experiences," she said.

The line - 01922 439 193 - is open from 0800 GMT to 1700 GMT on weekdays.

The pensioner, who is from the Quinton area of Birmingham, is due to appear before magistrates in the city on 21 February.