A government minister has backed an independent probe into abuse allegations at a Prestwich mental health unit.

Health minister Will Quince told the House of Commons on Thursday that an independent inquiry should take place into alleged mistreatment of patients at the Edenfield Centre, based at Prestwich Hospital.

It follows an undercover investigation by BBC Panorama, which reported that residents were mistreated by staff at the site, which provides secure treatment for adults with mental health needs.

Mr Quince said: “I’ve been horrified by the treatment of vulnerable people at the Edenfield Centre which has been brought to light by undercover reporting from the BBC.

“There is no doubt that these incidents are completely unacceptable and my ministerial colleague the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health has met with the GMMH NHS Foundation Trust and a number of steps are being taken.

“As a matter of first priority my department is working with the trust to ensure all affected patients are safe and a multi-disciplinary team has completed reviews of all patients.

“The trust has agreed there will be an independent investigation into the services provided at the Edenfield Centre.”

The Colchester MP apologised to the patients and families affected by the scandal and told the House of Commons there were "serious questions" that need to be answered.

After raising the issue in parliament, Bury South MP Christian Wakeford it has been 15 days since the “deeply distressing” scenes were aired by the BBC which bough “tears across the country".

However, Mr Wakeford said he has since heard “nothing from the department.”

He said: “The programme showed some of the most vulnerable people in society being physically abused, goaded, sexualised behaviour from staff to patients, falsifying medical records and patients locked in isolation for months on end.

“Seclusion seemed to be used for the convenience of staff rather than as a punishment.

“All this happened as the CQC was on site and did not issue a notice and even praised the bosses.”

In response, Mr Quince said ministers and the NHS must do all they can to prevent what happened at the centre from happening again.

He said: “[Christian Wakeford} asks for an independent inquiry, and I believe it does meet the threshold to do so .”

Neil Thwaite, chief executive of Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the centre, has previously sent out a letter to stakeholders, which includes the council, and stated the trust has made its own disciplinary processes as a matter of "urgent priority" and "rapid progress will be endeavoured".