A teacher sexually molested three seven-year-old pupils during classes at their Worcestershire school, a jury heard.

William Hughes groped victims as they stood at his desk to have work looked at, it was alleged.

A boy described in a videoed police interview how he was reading out work during a literacy class when Hughes put his hand down the back of his trousers and touched his bottom.

He claimed the teacher also put his hand down the front of his trousers on another occasion at the Worcestershire school.

Hughes, aged 48, of Fox Lane, Rock Hill, Bromsgrove, denies five counts of indecent assault between August 2001 and May 2002.

Prosecutor Graham Cliff told Worcester Crown Court that the victims were a boy and two girls.

Kept silent

He alleged that the defendant touched one girl's genitals inside her clothing and on a second occasion over her clothing. He said the other girl's genitals were touched over her clothing.

The boy said at first he kept quiet but when Hughes did it a second time "I thought I'd better tell my mum."

He also claimed he watched Hughes feel one of the girls' bottoms as she stood at his desk.

She told the jury that Hughes put his hand up her summer dress and indecently touched her.

She also kept silent at first for fear she would get into trouble. Then she disclosed the teacher's behaviour to her mother.

Peter Haynes, defending, suggested that the complaints had been invented. Hughes denies any inappropriate behaviour.

The trial continues.