The revelations over the past week concerning Government minister for children Margaret Hodge has shocked Falmouth and Camborne Labour MP Candy Atherton.

Ms Atherton was a member of Islington council in London during the 1980s and 1990s at a time when Mrs Hodge was its leader and when the authority came under the spotlight over wide-spread child abuse allegations.

The alleged abuse at a children's home under Islington council's control was said to have taken place in the 1970s and brought to Mrs Hodge's attention when she was leader of the authority from 1982 - 1992. But the full extent of the allegations were never acknowledged until after a police investigation and an official independent inquiry.

Ms Atherton served the same council between 1986 and 1992 becoming mayor in 1989-1992 and chairman of a number of its principal committees. She was lead member on health for four years.

This week Ms Atherton told the Packet she did not wish to make a public statement but like others who were on the authority she was "appalled" when hearing of the alleged abuse.

"The first I knew was when it appeared in the papers many years later," she said. "It is a sad situation for all those involved and makes me more determined it does not happen to other children in the future."

During her time on the London council Ms Atherton said no one approached her concerning the matter or made any allegations.

This week Mrs Hodge was planning to make a public apology via the courts to a victim of child abuse, Demetrious Panton, who she recently described as "extremely disturbed."

She is also to pay legal costs of Mr Panton and make a £10,000 donation to charity. She has already written to him to apologise for the slur, made in a letter to the BBC whose Today programme had been investigating Mr Panton's story.

Mr Panton, now a government advisor, had threatened to sue if a public apology was not forthcoming, a payment made to a charity of his choice and for his legal costs to be paid.