THE trial of a Bolton-based teacher accused of raping a 17-year-old girl on the Isle of Wight was expected to reconvene at Winchester Crown Court today.

Sharples School head of history Lee Savage is accused of raping and indecently assaulting the girl in an empty chalet at the Haven Holiday Park, Shanklin, Isle of Wight, during a student trade fair in March.

At the beginning of the trial on Monday the girl, who cannot be named, wept as she told the court married man Savage, aged 31, offered to walk her home following a night out at the holiday park.

But claimed instead he found the empty chalet and forced her to have sex with him in an ordeal which lasted for 20 minutes. She said it only ended when concerned friends who were searching for her shouted her name outside the chalet.

The trial, which was expected to last for a week, was halted yesterday when Judge Patrick Hooton rang in ill.

Savage, of Roseland Drive, Prestwich, denies rape and indecent assault.