THE caretaker at a girls' school caught the head of maths in an after-hours embrace with a sixth-form pupil, an employment tribunal has heard.

Kosovar Qeku, 31, saw Andrew Bolton, 34, in an embrace with Shona Upton, now 18, at Newcastle Church High School.

Giving evidence on behalf of the school, Mr Qeku said: "I saw Andrew Bolton and Shona sitting very close together in classroom eight.

"Their chairs were pulled right up next to each other and they were holding on to each other.

"When I walked into the room they looked up and let go of each other gently."

Mr Qeku said he had seen the pair together on at least six other occasions. He said he reported the matter to the senior caretaker each time.

Simon Goldberg, representing Mr Bolton, accused Mr Qeku of wanting to remain on good terms with the school to gain promotion.

Mr Qeku denied the accusation and said he was not qualified to apply for the job of senior caretaker.

Mr Bolton is claiming unfair dismissal and sexual discrimination against the 600-pupil school.

Mr Bolton, of South Gosforth, Newcastle, said Miss Upton left in July 2002 after she finished her A-levels, and that their affair began the following month.

The school, however, said she remained a pupil until the end of September.

The school's headteacher, Lesley Smith, said that she believed the affair started before Mr Bolton said it did.

Mr Bolton started working at the school in September 2000, and was dismissed in December 2002 following an investigation into the matter.

The hearing is due to end this week.