UNCERTAINTY today surrounds the future of a Winchester College teacher who was cleared yesterday of child cruelty.

Peter Metcalfe, 51, was acquitted of the alleged three offences against boys under the age of 16 after prosecutor Peter Henry told Winchester Crown Court the evidence was too weak, as reported in later editions of yesterday's Daily Echo.

Judge Keith Cutler recorded not guilty verdicts, telling Mr Metcalfe: "You remain a man of good character with no convictions recorded against you."

The Daily Echo traced Mr Metcalfe to his new home in Portal Road, Highcliffe, but he declined to comment about his ordeal.

The charges related to his time as housemaster in charge of du Boulay's House in Edgar Road. Mr Metcalfe is no longer a housemaster and has been suspended from teaching since April 2003.

A college spokesman said: "The headmaster Tommy Cookson will have to consider with Mr Metcalfe about the best way to proceed. It will be in discussions with him."

It was unclear whether Mr Metcalfe remains suspended.

In a statement, the college said: "The college investigated complaints about Mr Metcalfe in the 1990s. It has held a more recent inquiry in 2003.

"The police have conducted their own inquiries and today we have heard that a judge at Winchester Crown Court has returned a formal verdict of not guilty. We hope that the matter is now finally closed."