A council today apologised to the victims of a convicted paedophile who was in charge of a children's home for five years.

Dumfries and Galloway Council expressed a "heartfelt and sincere" apology to the victims of Peter Harley, who is currently serving a 15-year sentence for abuse at Merklands Residential Home, Moffat, Dumfriesshire.

And the council said anyone who was abused by the paedophile would be offered counselling, support and legal advice through a telephone helpline which is launched today. The total cost to the council could be more than £100,000.

The council is the successor to Dumfries and Galloway Regional Council, which ran the home where Harley was officer in charge from 1977 to 1982.

He was jailed in June 1996 after pleading guilty to 17 charges of indecency and assault. And he pleaded guilty to 13 charges of child abuse at Cardiff Crown Court last month after being questioned in a separate inquiry in South Wales, police in Cardiff said yesterday.

The apology followed a council inquiry into how best to help the abuser's victims which was launched after his conviction.

The number of children Harley preyed on while in charge of the home, which closed in 1982, is unknown, but as many as 200 boys and girls could have passed through the home during his time in charge and 67 were interviewed by police.

The unit was a traditional children's home that it took all ages and background of children, until the appointment of Harley in 1977 who quickly developed the reputation of being able to accommodate many of the "more difficult" young people coming through care system. These were usually teenage boys.

"The regime at Merklands was severe with physical assault, legitimised by the existing use of corporal punishment, being the norm.

"Peter Harley also sexually assaulted many of the young men who were resident. He did not use grooming tactics, but resorted to force from day one of a new resident arriving," said the council's report.

The council said: "Dumfries and Galloway Council deeply regrets the abuse suffered by the young people and, as well as sincerely apologising, wishes to offer as much support and assistance as possible. This apology is heartfelt and sincere."

The council is placing its apology in an advert to run fortnightly for the next eight weeks in local papers, the Big Issue, Sunday Mail and Daily Record.

Independent organisation Who Cares? Scotland has been brought in to run the helpline and support services.

The group's director Deirdre Watson said: "Who Cares? Scotland strongly supports this initiative from Dumfries and Galloway Council.

"Abuse is something which can badly affect people at different times throughout their lives. It is important that those effects are recognised and appropriate help and support is offered."

The report by the council found the paedophile's victims had turned to drink and drugs after the abuse, which had seen violent sexual attacks on boys in his care.

"The nature of the abuse and the effect that it subsequently has had on some of their lives makes this a vulnerable and high risk group, at least one of whom has taken his own life," it said.

No admission of liability had been made by the council and no compensation is being paid to any of the victims.

The council said: "During and immediately following the trial the young men had legal support. Claims were made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and some payments made.

"Informal approaches were made to this Council about compensation payments - the approaches were never formalised. At that time the advice from the Council Insurers was that any application via the Courts would be "time barred" and that any payment would imply a liability which had not, at that time, been defined in law."

Th helpline number is 0141 400 6377. It will be open on Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 6-8pm and on Sundays from 2-4pm.