A LANGUAGES teacher who was cleared of sexually abusing a former pupil was still off work today -- despite talks with education bosses about a possible return.

The Local Education Authority at Lancashire County Council is carrying out an inquiry into 'professional concerns' about the conduct of Haslingden High School's Head of French Colin Povey.

Mr Povey, 41, was found not guilty of three counts of indecent assault and three further indecency charges in January at Preston Crown Court when the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case against him.

Mr Povey, a father-of-two of Narcissus Avenue, Helmshore, had said he was hoping to return to work after yesterday's meeting but no decision has yet been made and he remained suspended today.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "Mr Povey remained suspended while this investigation is taking place and if necessary our findings will be reported to the governing body's disciplinary committee."

The charges before the court in January related to a pupil at Haslingden High between June 1993 and April 1994. Mr Povey was charged in October 2000.

After the court case he told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph: "It's been 16 months of hell."