FOUR teachers and a priest have been charged with offences of indecent assault at a top preparatory school.

The five, who are not being named, were arrested by police at locations across the country yesterday.

And a police spokesman today said more arrests were likely over the coming months.

The five include a current teacher, three former teachers and a priest currently working at St Mary's Hall Preparatory School, Stonyhurst, which has 230 pupils aged between seven and 13. They are due to appear before Blackburn Magistrates tomorrow.

A police spokesman said allegations about the five were made by former pupils and related to a period between 1972 and 1998. At least one of the five faces several charges.

The teacher currently employed at St Mary's Hall, which is run by the Catholic organisation The Society of Jesus, has been suspended, school bosses said today.

The arrests were part of a police operation codenamed Whiting, conducted by officers from the Major Crime Unit, into activities at the school from 1972. They have been working closely with the school authorities and Lancashire Social Services to trace and identify former pupils able to assist the investigation.

Detective Inspector Steve Marston leading the inquiry said: "We are continuing to investigate further allegations of sexual abuse from 1968 to 1998 and it is thought likely arrests will be made within the next few months.

"We are acutely aware of the sensitivities of such an inquiry and will treat any information in the strictest confidence. The college authorities and Society of Jesus are fully co-operating with the inquiry."

Police involved in the investigation can be contacted on 01772 410544 or by fax on 01772 410542.

Operation Whiting was launched after the arrest of the former head teacher of the Catholic school Robert O'Brien. He is currently awaiting trial at Preston Crown Court on six offences of indecently assaulting boys under the age of 14 between September 1972 and June 1998.

Robert O'Brien, 56, was suspended by school governors last October after they were informed of the police investigation and has since taken early retirement.

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