TWENTY people have now come forward to claim they were victims of sexual abuse by Sir Cyril Smith.

At least one victim has told detectives he was raped by the 29-stone politician, whose alleged child sex abuse activities at Knowl View School, a children's home in Rochdale, spanned nearly three decades.

Sir Cyril is alleged to have preyed on youngsters both at Knowl View, where five complainants have come forward, and another school in Rochdale for difficult children, Cambridge House, where 10 complainants have spoken to police. Another five say they were abused at other locations.

Police are discussing with lawyers the charges Sir Cyril would have faced if he was still alive, to give "closure and clarity" to victims.

The offences date from between 1960 and 1987. Sir Cyril, who died in 2010, was the subject of investigations over decades during his career, first as a local councillor in Rochdale and later as the town's Liberal MP. He was never prosecuted.

Detective Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "We are committed to understanding the enormity of Cyril Smith's misconduct."