A NEW documentary series featuring features men talking about being abused as boys at a County Durham children’s home in the 1960s is launched tonight (Monday, September 7).

The first episode of the BBC’s Inside Out hears the story of Brian Roy, who was at St Mary’s Children Home, in Tudhoe Village, near Spennymoor, from the age of three until 16.

Made in conjunction with Radio Tees, Mr Roy tells how he suffered physical, mental and sexual abuse at the hands of the priests and nuns who ran it after he arrived in 1949.

Mr Roy said he tried and failed to kill himself while his two brothers, John and Fred, succeeded in taking their own lives due to the abuse they suffered at the home, which was demolished in 1968.

Following the interview, Mr Roy meets two other men who were also at the home who say they also suffered abuse.

He also meets with Paul Young, safeguarding co-ordinator for the Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, who promises to investigate the allegations and to get the men some answers.

The series is also set to challenge topics including airport security, woman-on-man domestic abuse and the use of diet drugs while tonight’s episode also investigates the company that employed six former British soldiers arrested for weapons offences in India.

High-profile figures such as Inspector George Gently actor Lee Ingleby, former Sunderland MP Chris Mullin and inspirational Gateshead woman Jo Milne have made films for the series.

The first North East & Cumbria episode will be shown on BBC One at 7.30pm tonight (September 7).