STAFF at a nursery in Newcastle were horrified when colleagues were suspended over child abuse claims, a High Court judge hear.
Joyce Eyeington, a former supervisor, said staff did not believe it. She was called as a witness for Christopher Lillie and Dawn Reed.
Mr Lillie, 37, and Ms Reed, 31, are suing Newcastle City Council, four authors of a report called Abuse in Early Years and the Newcastle Chronicle and Journal.
Four years after they were cleared of indecently assaulting children from the nursery, the 1998 report concluded that they had, nevertheless, abused many young children.
Mrs Eyeington said after both were suspended the atmosphere in the nursery was "extremely strained".
The hearing continues.
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