A former teacher at an independent school in Barnes has pleaded guilty to possessing thousands of indecent images of children.

Anthony Fuggle, 58, who worked as a classics teacher at Colet Court, Lonsdale Road, until he resigned after his arrest in September 2013, was due to stand trial for at Kingston Crown Court this morning.

But Fuggle changed his plea to guilty on six counts of possessing indecent images of children and seven counts of making indecent images of children on or before September 10, 2013.

After his arrest, Fuggle was found to be in possession of more than 1,000 photographs and videos of children.

Four further counts of making indecent images, to which Fuggle pleaded not guilty, were asked by the prosecution to lie on file.

Fuggle, of Sandy Lane, Sutton, worked at the junior division of St Paul's School and alumni include former chancellor George Osborne.

The independent school, established in 1509, came under investigation as part of Operation Winthorpe after a number of pupils who attended between the 1960s and 1980s were said to have come forward with information.

Fuggle was released on conditional bail until his sentencing on June 5.