A LONG-AWAITED report on a lengthy inquiry into alleged abuse at a North-East school is about to be published.

Durham social services director Peter Kemp said the independent report into circumstances surrounding a major child protection investigation at Windlestone Hall School, County Durham, will be made public tomorrow morning.

Mr Kemp, who is also chairman of the Durham Area Child Protection Committee, declined to discuss the findings ahead of the report's release.

It has been written by child care expert and former Shropshire social services director, Christine Walby.

The special school, near Rushyford, closed in September 1998 after Durham Police and social services launched a child protection investigation into allegations made by some of the pupils.

Five teachers and eight members of care staff at the school, which at the time catered for 101 residential and day pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties, were suspended.

The school reopened with a reduced number of students the following November and, nine months later, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that no criminal charges would be brought.

Disciplinary investigations followed, but resulted in just one of the suspended staff receiving a verbal reprimand.

All other members of staff returned to their duties between December 1999 and October 2000, some subject to conditions relating to further training or agreement to implement proper procedures.

Parents and union leaders have criticised the length of time it has taken to publish the report and the money - thought to be about £1m - spent on the investigation.

Shirley Box, whose son Andrew's broken arm was one of the reasons the investigation was launched, said last night: "It's gone on long enough and it's about time it was coming to a close."

The child protection committee commissioned an independent overview of the investigation, and its aftermath, to examine the circumstances surrounding the allegations made by pupils and to recommend appropriate action.