Christians working in the media industry got together at the end of last week to pray for the BBC.

The prayer evening was organised by the MediaNet, a network for Christians working in all areas of the media.

It was held at All Souls Church, Langham Place, opposite the BBC Broadcasting House in central London.

The BBC remains at the centre of controversy over its decision to shelve a Newsnight report into sex abuse by Jimmy Savile.

More questions have been raised over a Newsnight report that falsely implicated Lord McAlpine in the child abuse sex scandal.

Andrew Graystone, MediaNet member and director of the Churches Media Council said the crisis had led to a loss of trust in the BBC and other institutions.

"I suspect that part of what we are witnessing in the BBC, Stoke Mandeville, Broadmoor and elsewhere is the consequence of the damage caused by the abuse of trust by Jimmy Savile, and perhaps others," he said.

"There's a great deal of anger flying around at the moment. We are going to see people lose their jobs, families break up and trusted institutions damaged because of this abuse. And we are going to see a further diminution of people's trust in themselves and each other.

"I don't have any easy answers. We need to find balm for victims. We need to counter anger with grace. And we need to work at the long-term task of rebuilding trust in society.

"The only way we can do this is by taking the risk of trusting and being trust-worthy at home and work."