A FORMER housemaster at prestigious Winchester College has this morning been cleared of abusing children.

Peter Metcalfe had been facing three charges of cruelty to boys under the age of 16.

Each of the offences was alleged to have been committed while Mr Metcalfe, 51, was in charge of Du Boulay's House on the Edgar Road campus between 1991 and 1996.

The allegations were not of a sexual nature but centred on physical and mental bullying of three of the boys in his care.

Mr Metcalfe pleaded not guilty to each of the charges as they were put to him by a clerk at Winchester Crown Court.

However, minutes later prosecutor Peter Henry told Judge Keith Cutler that the Crown was offering no evidence against Mr Metcalfe.

Mr Henry said the test is "whether there is a reasonable prospect of a conviction".

He added: "There has been some anxiety as to whether this standard could be reached in this case."

He said that following further statements from the boys who made the allegations, it had been decided that there was not enough evidence to proceed with the case.

Judge Cutler formally returned not guilty verdicts.

In a statement issued on behalf of Mr Metcalfe, his barrister Lisa Wilding, said: "Over the course of the last ten months, since he was first interviewed in relation to these matters, he has resolutely maintained his innocence and he is relieved that today the court has unequivocally confirmed that.

"He will leave court as a man of unblemished character.

"The last 21 years of his life have been devoted to teaching. Throughout that time his primary concern has always been the welfare of his pupils."

Ms Wilding added that had it gone to court, the defence would have called many witnesses who would have testified to his exemplary character.

Formerly discharging him, Judge Cutler said: "You remain a man of good character with no convictions recorded against you."

Mr Metcalfe has spent the past ten months since the allegations were made against him on police bail.

He has since retired as being a housemaster but remains employed by the college, though he has been suspended on full pay since last April pending the outcome of the case.

Winchester College is one of the most prestigious schools in Britain with 770 pupils on its register, each of whom pay about £21,000 a year in fees.