A HEADTEACHER is to return to work after allegations of indecent assault on a young girl were thrown out of court.

Last month, Bolton magistrates discharged the case against primary headteacher Phil Buckley, who had been suspended from his job at Tonge Moor Community School,

Earlier this year, the 47-year-old headteacher was charged by police on three counts of indecent assault and one count of gross indecency.

He had always denied the allegations, dating from between September 1991 and June 1992, and which centred around a nine-year-old girl.

Following a school governors meeting in May, Mr Buckley of Limefield Road, Smithills, was suspended on full pay.

But today, education bosses confirmed his suspension had now been lifted with immediate effect, following a school governors' meeting last night.

An LEA spokesman said: "After due consideration the governing body of Tonge Moor Community School has unanimously agreed to reinstate Mr Buckley.

"He was suspended as a matter of normal procedure while certain allegations made against him were investigated.

"Magistrates have now dismissed the case against Mr Buckley and the governors believe there is no reason why he should not be reinstated immediately to continue the excellent work he has been doing at Tonge Moor CP School."

Mr Buckley had been Bolton's spokesman for the National Association of Headteachers, NAHT. That role had been filled by Brian Essex, Mytham County Primary headteacher, while the legal proceedings continued.

This morning it had not been confirmed if the Mr Buckley was to resume his NAHT role.

Mr Buckley's return to work ends a rocky time for town hall education bosses, with two teachers having faced indecent assault charges in recent months.

Yesterday, the BEN revealed that another Bolton primary teacher, Neville Moss, 50, had quit his job after having been cleared in court of indecently assaulting six pupils.