A LANGUAGES teacher who was cleared of sexually abusing a former pupil at Haslingden High School in January is at the centre of a second investigation into his conduct.

The Local Education Authority at Lancashire County Council today confirmed that Head of French Colin Povey remains suspended from the school in Greens Lane, Haslingden, pending further inquiries into "professional concerns".

The second inquiry began immediately after the court case ended in January and was called for by the chairman of governors and headteacher of the comprehensive and former grammar school.

Mr Povey, 41, was found not guilty at Preston Crown Court after the Crown Prosecution Service dropped all charges during his trial. He had always maintained his innocence of three counts of indecent assault and three further indecency charges.

The teacher said today he was hoping to return to work if a meeting with education bosses concluded the second investigation on Thursday.

Mr Povey, a father-of-two of Narcissus Avenue, Helmshore, Rossendale, said after the case he was unhappy with the way the police had conducted the case and he wanted to fight to give teachers more protection against false allegations.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "The court case centred on legal concerns but there are further concerns remaining surrounding his professional conduct.

"As the man's employers the governing body of the school officially asked us to carry out the investigation as soon as the court case ended.

"We were asked by the chairman of governors and the headteacher at the school to investigate professional concerns on their behalf.

"Mr Povey remains suspended while this investigation is taking place and if necessary our findings will be reported to the governing body's disciplinary committee.

"We remain in touch with Mr Povey and his representatives. We treat each case individually but it is impossible to say how long the investigation will take. Until then he will remain suspended."

The spokesman declined to elaborate on what the professional concerns centred around, but confirmed the police files from the court case had been passed to the Local Education Authority following end of the case.

Mr Povey said: "I have just been told that there is a meeting next Thursday and I will be present at that.

"I am hoping that as a result of that meeting I will be returning to work.

"I am not aware of what the background of the LEA inquiry is."

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.

The investigation was part of Lancashire Constabulary's Operation Nevada inquiries into child abuse in institutions.

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

He added that he could not have survived the experience without the strength and support of his wife Celia.

He said: "I also want to thank the hundreds of friends, colleagues and members of the local community in Rossendale who have helped me."

After the court case a spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "We will now have the opportunity to meet with Mr Povey and his representative to discuss the implications of the case in relation to his employment."

He has been suspended from school since the charges were brought.