A teacher has been accused of making up lies about racial and sexual harassment at a Sussex school.

The male teacher, who was born in Nigeria, is making a claim at an employment tribunal for racial discrimination.

The teacher, who lives near Brighton, and the school cannot be named for legal reasons.

During the hearing, he listed a 28-page catalogue of complaints against the school, including accusations that he suffered abuse from colleagues and pupils because of his race and a claim a gay teacher threatened to force him to have sex.

But the teacher's claims were strongly denied by a senior colleague, who still works at the school.

She told the Brighton tribunal the man's claims were misrepresentations or simply not true.

She accused him of forging a letter to the tribunal which he claimed was written by her and of lying about the behaviour of pupils at the school, which he alleged included gambling, drug dealing and violence with weapons.

She said she was aware he had problems with other teachers during the four months he worked at the school but he had never complained to her about racial abuse from colleagues.

She said: "I was not aware of any racial harassment from teachers during his time at the college."

The teacher, who resigned last autumn and has not been able to find another teaching job, wants his former post back if he wins his case.

The tribunal continues.