Message found in 'punishment room'

The first picture of a "punishment room" at Haut de la Garenne showed graffiti scrawled against a wall which said "I've been bad for years and years".

Police are investigating claims from more than 160 victims that they were sexually, physically and psychologically abused at the Jersey home with allegations dating back more than four decades.

Victims have said dark underground "punishment rooms" were used to keep them in solitary confinement and they were drugged, raped and flogged. So far forensic teams at the site have excavated one bricked-up secret cellar and believe there could be three more.

Police also announced they had found "a few items" at the same site where part of a child's skull was discovered on Saturday, February 23.

Officers announced the items could be pieces of bone and said a sniffer dog, specially trained to find human remains, gave a strong reaction to them.

Deputy police chief Lenny Harper said: "We continued to excavate the first site at the house and have taken out a few items. It is too early to say what the significance of those are. They're possibly pieces of bone."

The items have been sent away for tests.

Mr Harper said he did not know who had written the haunting verse found in the chamber, or when it was put there.

There are more than 40 suspects in the inquiry and Mr Harper said a specialist police team was at the port in case of any attempt to escape.