The Church of England has apologised over its response to abuse allegations made by the Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries. 

Ms Dorries said in 2015 that she had been abused by an Anglican vicar, who was a family friend, at the age of nine.  She told Times Radio that she had reported the alleged abuse years later to two Anglican Bishops who are members of the Lords Spiritual. But she says that although they said they would look into her case, they never followed up with action. She described it as an "appalling response."

In a statement, a  Church of England spokeswoman said: 

"We can confirm that the national safeguarding team has been in ongoing contact with Nadine Dorries following her brave disclosure of childhood abuse by an Anglican vicar, now deceased. We have offered support and have left open the offer to speak further so the Church can learn lessons from this case.

"We are sorry that when the matter first came to the Church’s attention in 2015 that she did not experience the response she should have received."