BURY health chiefs, who sacked a doctor after he was accused of assaulting four patients, are now facing legal action from one of the victims.

A mother-of-two, who complained she was groped by Dr Alexander Clubb, is to seek compensation from Bury Healthcare NHS Trust who employed him.

The 29-year-old, who does not want to be named, said that during the examination the doctor suddenly felt her breasts without seeking permission.

But Dr Clubb this week maintained he had done nothing wrong and insisted that he had never had a complaint against him during his 45-year career until a spate of incidents within a few weeks last summer.

Dr Clubb was taken on by the Bury trust as a locum consultant gynaecologist from January 3 last year until October.

The woman, who lives in Waterfoot, said she was referred to Dr Clubb at the Wesley House clinic in Rawtenstall after suffering a painful infection last May.

She said she agreed to have a pelvic examination and smear test. She undressed from the waist down and lay on the couch while a nurse got some instruments ready. The victim said: "I was really nervous because I hate having smear tests and I was in pain." She said Dr Clubb stood by her shoulder before grabbing her breasts.

She said: "I was so shocked I just froze. It didn't feel like something a doctor would do."

When she returned home she told her husband, who immediately made a complaint to the NHS Trust.

Bury Health Care NHS Trust immediately suspended the doctor from duty and,

after a disciplinary hearing in October, terminated his contract as a locum gynaecologist for gross misconduct through physical assault.

The woman said she was severely distressed and suffered depression for months after the incident. Her lawyer, Jonathan Bridge, of Farleys Solicitors, Burnley, said: "We are pursuing a claim from the Trust for psychological injury and physical assault."

Mr David Clements, Trust general manager, said all four incidents were part of longer consultations, with female nurses or midwives present. He said: "The women had attended for gynaecological examinations and they had not expected breast examinations."

Mr Clements said he did not believe the incidents were sexually motivated and Dr Clubb had been fired for not adequately seeking consent before examining the women's breasts.

He said: "When he was employed in January, satisfactory references were sought from his previous employer where he had a long and unblemished career."

Dr Clubb, who lives in Staffordshire, said he had been shocked and upset by the women's' allegations. He said: "I have been qualified for 45 years and I did nothing different in Bury than I did anywhere else. I have never had a single complaint previously."

Dr Clubb said he was not prepared to say publicly why he thought the complaints had come about.

He said he was still working and had a large private practice.

He said: "I'm not a nasty man. I have had a wonderful reputation all my working life and still have but it seems it is about to be destroyed, which is not justified."

The case has been reported to the General Medical Council.