PRINCE Charles was "deceived" into supporting a paedophile bishop, it is claimed.

Peter Ball, who retired to Aller, near Langport, and is now in is late 80s, may have preyed on more than 100 boys and young men over decades.

A report concludes that the Church of England responded with "secrecy" to child abuse allegations against Ball, who was Bishop of Lewes, East Sussex, from 1977 to 1992 and Bishop of Gloucester in 1992.

He then resigned through ill health after accepting a caution - an admission of guilt - for one count of gross indecency.

The Prince of Wales was described as "misguided" for speaking in support of Ball to the Archbishop of Canterbury, while the Duchy of Cornwall was criticised for buying a property to rent to the disgraced priest.

The report following last year's Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse said the Prince's actions "could have been interpreted as expressions of support" for Ball and had the "potential to influence the actions of the Church".

Ball, who was jailed for 32 months for abusing 18 victims in the 1970s and 1990s, tried to use Charles to enable him to continue "unrestricted ministry".

A Clarence House spokesman said it was a "matter of deep regret" that Charles and others were "deceived" by Ball over many years.

He added: "At no time did he bring any influence to bear on the actions of the Church or any other relevant authority."

Ball, who was too frail to attend the inquiry in person, said in a statement that his relationship with Charles was "one of support and respect".

Neil Todd, who was abused by Ball, took his own life after being "seriously failed" by the Church, which was accused of viewing Ball's behaviour as "trivial and insignificant", while Mr Todd's claims were treated with "callous indifference".

Lord George Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, was criticised in the report for backing Ball and delaying a "proper investigation" into the bishop's crimes.

And the Crown Prosecution Service missed an opportunity to charge Ball in 1992, when he was given a caution.

The Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Rt Rev Peter Hancock, the Church's safeguarding lead, said: "We are immensely grateful to survivors for their courage in coming forward.

"Their testimonies have made shocking and uncomfortable listening.

"The report states that the Church of England should have been a place which protected all children and supported victims and survivors and the inquiry's summary recognises that it failed to do this."