The head of a Sussex primary school has been placed on indefinite leave amid a police inquiry into allegations she assaulted a classroom assistant.

Bridget Lawson, 50, was praised in a glowing report by Government education inspectors for her leadership of Herstmonceux CE Primary School.

But now she has been prevented from visiting the 200-pupil school pending the outcome of a police investigation into claims she assaulted classroom assistant Vicki Ede.

The alleged assault followed a heated row in the toilets of a local hotel in December which centred on an affair between married Mrs Ede and the former chairman of governors Chas Parker, 48, a writer.

A police source said today that a classroom assistant from the school, understood to be Mrs Ede, 38, of Bodle Street Green, near Hailsham, had made an allegation of common assault against the school's headteacher.

Both women are on leave until the situation has been resolved. Neither was prepared to comment.

Mrs Lawson took up her post nine years ago and quickly impressed parents.

A year after she became aware of Mrs Ede's relationship with Mr Parker, from Hooe, near Eastbourne, Mrs Lawson took time off work with stress.

The move came just weeks after an Ofsted report praised the school and her role as head.

During her time off, East Sussex County Council launched an inquiry into a complaint made by Mr Parker that Mrs Lawson's leadership style had led to a number of staff leaving.

A subsequent report cleared Mrs Lawson of any mismanagement. When she returned to work in June last year Mr Parker resigned.

Last night Mr Parker admitted the affair.

He said: "There is no dispute about the affair. The whole village knew about it but it was two years ago. It's a bit bizarre that it has all come out now.

"I raised some concerns about the head some time ago and details of my private life were raised, I think to discredit me."

A county council spokesman said the education authority was poised to launch an inquiry into how to resolve the "sensitive staffing issue" at the school. He said the inquiry would be launched once the police investigation had concluded.