PUBLIC funding has been approved to support a multi-party compensation claim by families of people who live at Winterbourne View.

The private hospital in Hambrook closed in June after the BBC’s Panorama programme aired undercover footage of adult patients with severe learning difficulties being physically and mentally abused.

The scandal led to a public outcry and has sparked numerous policy reviews and independent investigations.

Hospital owners Castlebeck apologised unreservedly for the abuse and 13 staff were arrested and remain on bail.

At a meeting with specialist lawyers Foot Anstey in Bristol, relatives were told public funding would be used to set up the logistics of a multi-party claim.

Steve Sollars, whose son was at Winterbourne View, said: "We all feel stronger for this meeting and I would urge other affected families to get in touch so they can get support whilst this investigation takes place.

"We just want to find out what happened and make sure that other people don't go through what we've been through."

Andrew Hannam, partner at Foot Anstey, said: "With the encouraging news on public funding the families can really feel the momentum building; a group action of this kind will ensure the families have a collective voice and that public funds will be spent wisely."