Matron Christine Barrington has spoken out about her affair with a pupil at Abingdon School, writes Matt Childe.

The public school was remaining tight-lipped today after the 43-year-old ex-nanny told all to a national newspaper.

The Oxford Mail exclusively revealed last week that the mum-of-two quit after headteacher Michael St John Parker learned of her affair with the 17-year-old.

Christine, from Kent, won the £175-a-week job in September after replying to a magazine ad. She told The Sun newspaper: "There was an attraction early on - we were always flirtatious. Then he started making excuses to help me at my flat in the grounds."

She said the crunch came after rumours reached "fever pitch". "The headmaster confronted me in the grounds. He said he knew I had been intimate with the boy and that I had to leave immediately.

"I think the school handled it quite badly. I don't know why they couldn't have let us carry on discreetly until he left."

She added: "I don't think they will be employing anyone attractive again. Any future matron will be a 20-stone horror."

Story date: Tuesday 18 May

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