蜜芽传媒

An independent review has found that senior figures in the Church of England "colluded" with a former bishop who sexually abused young men.

Peter Ball, who is now 85, was jailed in 2015 for historical offences.

Dame Moira Gibb's review criticised the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey for setting the tone of the Church's ''wholly inadequate response' to dealing with the issue.

The Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Right Reverend Peter Hancock told the World at One that Lord Carey has been asked to step down from an honorary church role.

"Lessons have been learnt, mistakes have been made and Lord Carey has apologised for that," the Bishop said.

He also said the Church was acting on Dame Moira's recommendations and one measure is the provision of a national safeguarding team.

(Image: The Rt Revd Peter Hancock, Bishop of Bath and Wells. Credit: Getty Images).