A NURSERY school head-teacher was found dead two days after being questioned by police over indecent photographs of young girls found at his home.

Andrew John Heggie, 48, head at the Willow Nursery School, Milking Stile Lane, Lancaster was found in his car near Dent, Cumbria at 10.36am on Saturday.

He is believed to have committed suicide and a pipe connecting his exhaust to the car was found.

A Customs and Excise warrant had been executed at Mr Heggie's home on Wyresdale Road, Lancaster last Thursday.

Four photographs are understood to have been seized and a computer is also being examined.

School governors were informed of the situation on Monday while shocked parents received a letter on Tuesday explaining the situation.

A Lancashire police spokesman said: "I can confirm that Mr Heggie was questioned by detectives at Lancaster about a number of photographs found at his home after a warrant had been executed by Customs and Excise.

He had been released on Thursday evening.

In view of the discovery of the photographs Mr Heggie's employers had been informed."

Mr Heggie, who was single, had been head-teacher at the school for the past five years, before which he worked outside Lancashire.

He had not been to the school since last Wednesday, before he was questioned by police.

Mrs Barbara Wignall, currently head teacher at the nearby Greaves Park nursery school, described by the county council as an 'experienced local head teacher' has taken over as Associate Head teacher and will running the school on a temporary basis.

She is working with the governing body of the school and the staff, as well as police.

In a letter to parent, Jack Bennett, acting director of Lancashire County Council's education and cultural services directorate, says: "The police have given no indication that any children connected with the school were involved in the matter under investigation."

Mr Bennett's letter describes the incident as 'essentially a police matter' but added: "This is a very distressing time for the school and parents."

A county council spokesperson said that all staff working with children must disclose any criminal convictions.

These are, she added, always checked and Mr Heggie had passed the check.

Arrangements have also been made for counselling to be made available for members of staff and pupils who request it.

Police and the council have pledged to keep parents fully informed of the situation and a meeting is planned in the near future.

Ward councillor and school governor, Jon Barry, described the nursery as 'excellent and well run' and said Mr Heggie, who was 'the life and soul of the school', had lead a successful campaign to keep the nursery independent of the local junior school two years ago.

A Customs and Excise spokesman confirmed that the material seized was 'indecent and obscene' and that a man had been arrested, questioned and released on police bail.

He would not give details of their procedures.

Customs sources say that their usual procedure is to routinely scan and inspect goods at postal centres to hunt for products coming illegally into the country, ranging from pornography to goods on which import and export duties should be paid.

If they find anything that breaks the law the customs will take action for importing illicit material and, if there is an offence under any other law, the police will be involved.

Mr Heggie's body was identified by his brother, Martin Alex Heggie, at Westmorland General Hospital, Kendal, on Saturday.

South Lakeland coroner, Cyril Prickett, opened and adjourned an inquest until a date to be set