A nun has admitted to an inquiry that she mistreated children at two orphanages and described another sister's alleged actions as "cruel".

The 77-year-old, who cannot be identified, said youngsters at Nazareth House in Aberdeen would be smacked or hit with a hairbrush while she was there between 1963 and 1973.

She was giving evidence after the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry heard a statement she made on Friday.

In it, she said she acknowledged some children "were mistreated when they were in my care" at Nazareth House in Aberdeen and Nazareth House in Lasswade.

Colin MacAuley QC, senior counsel to the inquiry, asked her how those being naughty would be punished.

The witness said: "They might get a smack. Probably on the legs or the bottom."

She said she and the children were frightened of another nun, who she said would use a hairbrush to hit the youngsters.

The witness added it was the other nun who was in charge of dealing with children who wet the bed.

She said: "The children used to say they put the sheets on them but I never saw that.

"If it was one of sister's punishments, I never intervened. It was nasty, I thought it wasn't nice."

Mr MacAulay then asked her if she would describe the treatment as cruel.

She said: "I would now."

The inquiry, before Lady Smith in Edinburgh, continues.