A DEPUTY head teacher has been cleared of three charges of indecent assault.

Frederick Barton, deputy headteacher at Mount St Joseph's School, Farnworth, was alleged to have carried out the assaults on two girls in the 1970s.

He was also accused of another indecent assault on one of the girls. The jury at Bolton Crown Court failed to reach a verdict on that fourth charge and was discharged.

Barton will have to wait two weeks to hear whether he will be tried again on that charge.

The jury of six men and six women unanimously cleared Barton, aged 56, of Hough Fold Way, Harwood, of one count of indecent assault against a 16-year-old girl at her home in 1974.

The jury returned a majority verdict of not guilty on a charge relating to the same girl in 1973 while she was babysitting at Barton's home.

A majority verdict also cleared him of indecently assaulting a 12-year-old girl in 1979.

The fourth charge, on which no verdict was reached, alleged that Barton indecently assaulted the same girl when she was 10 in 1976.

Barton denied all charges.

He said the allegations had been made up.

A hearing will take place at Bolton Crown Court on October 21 to decide whether or not he will face a new trial on the fourth charge.

Barton, who teaches maths and IT at Mount St Joseph's, was suspended from his position after being interviewed by police.

He previously taught at Deane Grammar School.

He made no comment after Friday's heraring.