VETERAN DJ Dave Lee Travis was "touchy-feely" in a "nice sense", a former BBC colleague has told a court.

Philip Hughes, who worked as a technical operator for the BBC from 1973 to 1980, said he never saw any "inappropriate conduct" by Travis when they worked together on Radio 1.

He told jurors at London's Southwark Crown Court he would have been "slightly concerned" had he seen somebody having a "physical tussle" with the DJ in a studio.

Travis, 68, is on trial accused of indecently assaulting 10 women and sexually assaulting another while working as a BBC DJ, as a broadcaster with Classic Gold radio, while appearing on Top Of The Pops and when starring in panto.

He denies all the charges.

Asked by Stephen Vullo, defending, how he found Travis as a character to work with, Mr Hughes replied: "I personally liked Dave. He was a fun and larger-than-life character, nice bloke, great sense of humour."

Mr Hughes said: "He was the sort of person who would give a bear hug in the corridor," he went on. "Blokes as well as anyone working on the programme."

Asked whether he could recall any "inappropriate conduct" by Travis, Mr Hughes said: "No, I don't."

Travis, from Buckinghamshire, is charged with 13 counts of indecent assault between 1976 and 2003, and one count of sexual assault. He is appearing under his birth name David Griffin.

Former Radio 1 producer David Atkey, who worked for the station from 1968 to 1988, told the court he was never made aware of an allegation that Travis indecently assaulted a woman in a Radio 1 studio in 1977.

"His conduct was exemplary," he said. "He was a very nice, warm, gentle man. He liked to hug people. He hugged me on numerous occasions."

The court has previously heard that Travis allegedly touched the breasts of a Radio 4 announcer.

Mik Wilkojc, who pro-duced Travis's weekend show on Radio 1 in the 1990s, said the DJ was "very jovial, dependable...and reliable".

Jon Kutner, who worked as a BBC messenger in the late 1970s and early 1980s, told the court: "There was never anything untoward."

The trial continues.