A FORMER children's home team leader has been acquitted of attacking a boy - and has told of his relief at seeing his name cleared.

Care worker David Towler, 53, was found not guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm after a four day trial at Burnley Crown Court and was discharged by Recorder T Ryder.

Mr Towler, of Brookdale, Walsden, Todmorden, had denied the allegation. He has no criminal convictions.

After the verdict, Mr Towler, who had been supported by family and friends throughout the hearing, said he felt "extremely relieved," but entirely vindicated by the result of the trial.

He said he was delighted that his long-standing and professional record remained unblemished and hoped that as a consequence of the jury's verdict, he would be able to return to child care work at some time in the future.

The court had heard claims that the defendant had banged the child's head against a wall and kicked a chair at him after words over a bedtime cigarette.

The 15 year old complainant was seen by another staff member at the East Lancashire home with blood dripping onto the carpet of his room. Mr Towler was later interviewed by the police and has not been back to the home since the alleged incident.

Mr Towler told the police that he had pushed the teenager into his room and the boy had fallen over a chair.

He said the boy had then thrown the chair at him and it had bounced back. He had not deliberately hit the boy.