A NURSERY nurse has been sacked from his job after appearing in court over alleged child sex offences.

Alexander Mortimer, 28, from Rutherglen, near Glasgow, appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Tuesday on two counts of sexually assaulting a child, taking an indecent photo of a child and possessing indecent images.

He had initially been suspended, but a spokeswoman for South Lanarkshire Council, which employed him at one of its nurseries, said yesterday: "We can confirm an employee has been dismissed in connection with criminal charges."

Mortimer was also suspended from the Scottish Social Services Council care worker register for six months.

One mother said she had pulled her three-year-old daughter out of the nursery. She said although the council had told her that her daughter was not involved in the case, she was not taking her back and had demanded a transfer.

Many parents said they were angry about a lack of information being provided and that they had not been told where the alleged offences took place.

The council sent parents a letter on February 12, from the executive director of education resources, Larry Forde, stating that a police investigation was under way into a member of nursery staff.

A parent said it contained only "vague details with regard to the suspension of a staff member."

South Lanarkshire Council said that the authority was continuing to work closely with parents.