A MARRIED teacher who was cleared of raping a 17-year-old girl he admitted having sex with now faces a fight to save his career.

Lee Savage, 31-year-old head of history at Sharples School, now faces a disciplinary inquiry to be conducted by school governors.

Mr Savage, who is still suspended from his job, walked free from court holding his wife Lindsay's hand after being cleared of raping and indecently assaulting a 17-year-old girl. Education chiefs in Bolton today confirmed an inquiry will be conducted by governors. They are likely to meet as soon as possible.

Mr Savage today refused to speak to reporters who had gathered outside his modern semi-detached home in Roseland Drive, Prestwich.

The curtains were drawn and Mr Savage and his wife Lindsay refused to come to the door.

However, shortly before lunchtime, the casually dressed couple ran out of the front door and jumped into their T-registered VW Polo and drove off to an unknown destination. Yesterday a jury at Winchester Crown Court took less than an hour to find Mr Savage not guilty of rape and an alternative charge of attempted rape and indecent assault. He denied the charges.

When the verdicts were given, Mr Savage's family and friends in the public gallery, including his wife of five years, clapped, shouted "yes" and some burst into tears. As he left the dock, he mouthed "thank you" to the jury of six men and six women. Last night the teenager's mother said she was "devastated" by the verdict.

Mr Savage, a teacher for six and a half years, was alleged to have forced the girl -- a pupil at another school -- to go with him into an empty chalet at the Lower Hyde Holiday Camp in Shanklin, Isle of Wight, on April 1 this year.

Mr Savage told a jury during the seven-day trial that the teenager, who cannot be named, had willingly performed sexual acts and had intercourse with him.

He told the court: "At no point had there been any physical or verbal objection. She just seemed to be enjoying herself. I was not thinking about it at the time but since think there is no excuse for it. It was possibly something I could get sacked for. It was stupid, pointless, embarrassing."

A joint statement from the governors at Sharples School and Bolton Council said: "The issue will now be considered by the school governors through the established protocol, supported by the LEA. Mr Savage will continue to remain on suspension from Sharples until the conclusion of this process."

Bolton representative for the National Union of Teachers (NUT) Barry Conway said he felt sure Mr Savage could expect the full union support.

In this case the girl did not attend Mr Savage's school and was not formally under his authority. His wife is standing by her husband. She is reported to have said: "He is very caring and loving, very supportive of me all the time -- a great husband."