A pensioner who was sexually abused by a nun as a boy says speaking about his ordeal has changed his life, adding: "It's been on my mind all the time."

Edward Hayes, 76, has given up his legal right to anonymity to speak about what he went through, saying it had lived with him for decades.

Mr Hayes, of Denton Holme, Carlisle, is also hoping other victims of abuse are encouraged by his example and come forward.

He spoke about how he was sexually abused after being singled out by a nun who used to visit him "most nights".

Mr Hayes' ordeal happened at the former John Reynolds Home in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire.

This was run by the Franciscan Missionaries of St Joseph, a Catholic congregation of nuns.

It has since apologised for the abuse he suffered.

Mr Hayes said he was abused by Irish nun Sister Mary Conleth, real name Bessie Veronica Lawler, in the 1950s, when she was in her twenties.

It is said the abuse ended when she became pregnant and was sent back to Ireland. She has since died.

Mr Hayes, who lives alone, later returned to Cumbria, having originally been from north Cumbria.

Reliving the effect on him - and speaking out to urge other victims to come forward - he said: "I've had a rough life since.

"It's on your mind all the time.

"I worked at the same place for 19 years. The people there didn't know. My wife didn't know. I couldn't tell anybody.

"Things like walking through the town, you think people are looking at you. I've stood in doorways blushing.

"When I was younger, in a club, going to the toilet I would never stand at the urinals with the rest of the lads. I would go in a cubicle."

Mr Hayes was 10 when he was put in the home, where he said he was happy at first.

But he said the abuse started in about 1953

Looking back, he added: "She used to visit me most nights in my own room. She was sexually abusing me.

"It started when I was 12. It went onto when I was about 14.

"Then she got pregnant. I was 15 when I left the home."

He said he was not sure what was going on at the time.

Mr Hayes added: "I used to say: What's happening? Why have I been singled out?

"I don't think I actually realised I was being abused."

In adult life, he felt the urge to tell people - but often then found the need to keep it to himself.

He said: "I decided about 30 or 40 years ago, I thought: I must tell somebody.

"I picked a couple out at Harraby. They are good listeners. They will understand.

"I went up on a Sunday morning to have a cup of tea and a crack. But I never said anything.

"I've seen the lady since and she knows about it. She said: Why didn't you say anything?"

He joined the Army in the 1960s - and told a friend there in the services.

"The Army saved my life," he added.

He said he contacted police more than 15 years ago.

"They said I'd done the right thing," he added. "But most of the nuns were dead. The home was shut."

Mr Hayes later spoke to Macsas (Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors).

This is a support group for people abused by clergy.

"When I rang Macsas in London, that is when I really opened up," said Mr Hayes.

He has also spoken out in national media, which he said had helped.

It was national coverage of high-profile sex scandals which also made him feel that he should encourage other victims to come forward.

"This is still going on. I read the papers, I read the news," he said.

"I've decided I'm going to open up.

"I've done that now and just in the last two or three days people have said I've changed.

"I've felt on a high. I woke up feeling fantastic. It's a weight off my chest.

"I'm a changed guy. Everybody has seen the change.

"If I knew what it would do years ago I would probably have done it."

His motivations, he added, were: "Number one: Maybe help other kids if they read my story.

"I hope it's going to help, especially if they are my age. I know what they have been through.

"If they are kids they have a hell of a life ahead of them."

A spokeswoman for the Sisters of the Franciscan Missionaries of St Joseph said: "I am desperately sad that abuse took place to Mr Hayes while he was placed under our care.

"The Franciscan Missionaries of St Joseph have offered our sincere and unreserved apology for the abuse he suffered while resident at the John Reynolds Home and all the subsequent pain and trauma which followed the actual abuse.

"There is no place for abuse in the Church and along with every other agency caring for children and vulnerable adults we now have stringent safeguarding policies which aim to prevent any possible recurrence of what happened to Mr Hayes."

Mr Hayes has also been supported by the National Association of Persons Abused in Childhood.

Police in recent years have dealt with a surge in historic cases of sexual abuse.

The issue was discussed last week at a top meeting of senior crimefighting figures.

Speaking at a gathering of the public accountability conference of Cumbria's crime commission, Peter McCall, the county's deputy chief constable, Mark Webster, gave some of the background.

He said there was a lot more willingness on the part of people to come forward following high profile cases nationally.

The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) offers support to adult survivors of all types of childhood abuse, including physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect.

It offers a support line. The organisation says the service is confidential and the number won't show on your bill.

The organisation adds what you can expect when calling the line.

A spokesman said: "We promise to keep what you tell us completely confidential.

"The only exceptions to this are if we learn that an adult or child is at imminent risk of harm or if we are given information about acts of terrorism or money laundering.

"In those circumstances alone we are obliged to inform the police or other authorities."

Call 0808 801 0331, from 10am to 9pm, Monday to Thursday - and 10am to 6pm on Fridays.