Men arrested over child cruelty allegations at SEND school

Image caption, Life Wirral school is rated as "good" by Ofsted inspectors

Three men have been arrested over allegations of child cruelty at an independent school for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

A 43-year-old man from Meols, a 21-year-old man from Wallasey and a 26-year-old man from Irby had been held on suspicion of child cruelty, Merseyside Police said.

The trio had been taken into custody to be interviewed and enquiries were ongoing, the force added.

Last year, Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council paid the Life Wirral school nearly 拢1m.

Places at the school for secondary school age children cost between 拢50,000 and 拢150,000 a year per child, depending on the support they need.

Wirral Council has paid out more than 拢2.2m in total since the school opened in 2021.

The school is rated as "good" by Ofsted inspectors.

Listen to the best of 大象传媒 Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow 大象传媒 Merseyside on , , and . You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk