Two former children's homes workers were each jailed for six years yesterday after being convicted of a series of sexual assaults on youngsters in their care.

George Simpson, 60, of Perley Park, North Shields, and Alan Essex, 59, of New Milton, Hampshire, abused six children aged between seven and 14 years old in the 1970s and 1980s, Inner London Crown Court heard.

Detective Superintendent Andrew Kay of the Metropolitan Police said the investigation into allegations of abuse at the Ivydale children's home in Peckham, south London, has resulted into a wider investigation into at least six more homes run by Southwark Borough Council during the same period.

Simpson joined the home as deputy officer in charge in November 1975 and had previously worked in other care homes. He began abusing the children at bath time and when he took them on holiday from the home, the court heard.

Essex joined the home as a key-worker in January 1979 and worked there for just over two years. One of the offences included tying a boy up.

Police do not believe the two men acted together in the offences they committed. They were sentenced after being found guilty of six counts each of abuse offences last month.

Southwark Council's director of social services Chris Bull said in a statement he was pleased the offenders have been brought to justice and "deeply regretted the appalling offences".

He added: "It is now recognised that child care in children's homes all over Britain, was at that time, open to abuse.

"Subsequent legislation has ensured that we are now in a better position to protect children in our care and believe current practice of intensive screening and vigilance reduces the possibilities of such offences occurring in the future.

"In recent years far fewer children have been placed in residential care homes and a wide range of measures are in place to ensure their safety, including important opportunities for children to speak out and be listened to."