A HAVERIGG man is one of five residential school workers who have gone on trial accused of the alleged physical abuse and cruelty of ex-pupils.

It is alleged that criminal acts were committed against four different boys who attended Witherslack Hall, Grange, during the 1970s and 1980s.

Opening the case to a jury at Carlisle Crown Court, prosecutor Keith Sutton said: "It involves allegations of assaults and child cruelty upon some of the pupils at the school, and that was carried out, the prosecution say, by those who were responsible for their education and care of those pupils."

The boys, said Mr Sutton, had been placed at Witherslack Hall by their local authorities having been deemed "for a variety of reasons" they were unsuitable for mainstream education.

Roger Whitehouse, 78, of Sea View, Haverigg, denies two alleged actual bodily harm assaults and two charges alleging child cruelty.

Whitehouse was said to have been described by one of the complainants as "sadistic". It was alleged he made that boy - after he was caught smoking - run three miles along a country track in bare feet.

Another ex-pupil, Alan Rutty, described teacher Whitehouse as "vicious". On one occasion he claimed Whitehouse came to collect him after he tried to start a dumper truck in a local quarry.

Whitehouse was "angry". "I was told to remove my shoes and socks. I had my hands placed on my head," he told jurors. "I was prodded and pushed and told to walk up the track."

This, he said, was "very painful because I had nothing on my feet". "My feet were cut and bleeding and bruised," Mr Rutty added.

Mr Sutton alleged Whitehouse assaulted a third boy caught smoking.

Three other men each deny one charge alleging single actual bodily harm assaults on different pupils.

They are Andrew Elliot, 68, of Main Street, Greatford, Stamford, Lincolnshire; Michael Lynch, 72, of Kirkhead Road, Grange-over-Sands; and Glyn Waterhouse, 62, of Stainton, near Kendal. A fifth man, 69-year-old Alec Greening, of Dalton, near Burton-in-Kendal, denies one charge alleging child cruelty.

The jury heard all five defendants denied the allegations made against them when interviewed by police. Whitehouse was said to have stated his belief, the court heard that the people making allegations "have got together and conspired against him".

The trial, which is estimated to last up to five weeks, continues.