DOZENS of former schoolboys are pursing legal action after claiming they were abused while staying at school.

More than 30 pupils from the former Oxley Parker School, in Mill Road, Colchester, have spoken to solicitor Katherine Yates who is now putting together a civil case for compensation.

Essex Police also plans to speak to her firm, Andrew Groves and Co, to see if there is enough evidence for a criminal case.

The school is one of two schools being investigated by the firm.

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of historic abuse at Elmbridge Boarding School in Ongar during the 1980s and 1990s.

The men, aged 65 and 79, have been bailed while further investigations are carried out.

The other school is Oxley Parker.

Abuse at Oxley Parker School has already been investigated once by police leading a former teacher being jailed for ten years for a number of sexual offences against young boys.

Ms Yates said the latest claims involve more than one teacher.

Speaking to the Gazette she said: “I have heard some horrific stories.

“A few months ago we were contacted by a mother because her son had turned into a recluse.

“He was eating himself to death since being sexually abused at the school.”

The alleged abuse at the Colchester school mainly relates to alleged activities in the 1980s and 1990s.

The allegations involve sexual abuse of a severity going up to and including rape.

Ms Yates said victims claim a man would go into the dormitories and touch them under the covers.

She has also revealed two statements from those she has spoken to about the experiences which detail physical suffering at the time and the emotional suffering they have since endured.

Oxley Parker School, a private school which catered for boys aged eight to 17, closed in 1998.

It was privately run and not under Essex County Council control.

However, a spokesman for the council, said it was aware of the new investigation.

She said: “We would encourage anyone with information relating to historic child sex abuse to get in touch with the police or other support agencies.”

Ms Yates can be reached on 01223 367133.