PUPILS and tutors have leapt to the defence of an Accrington teacher under investigation after complaints about her "lurid" gothic vampire websites.

Support for teacher Samantha Goldstone of St Christopher's CE High School came as it emerged her debut vampire novel was in a good book guide alongside horror legend Stephen King.

As revealed in Saturday's paper, the English and drama teacher has agreed to stay away from the church school she has taught at for three years while the complaints are investigated.

Investigations centre on the part-time gothic fiction writer's personal websites and others that promote gothic literature written under her pen name Paigan Stone which she says contains "adult content with vampire eroticism, violence and blood lust."

Her personal MySpace website, which has now been taken off public display, included images and links to her debut novel Gabriele Caccini which features a 17th Century vampire who lusts after women after being drugged with ecstasy.

Following complaints from parents, headteacher Alasdair Coates has launched the investigation.

But more than 60 messages have been posted on the Telegraph's website - many from past and present pupils and teachers supporting her.

One former pupil from Burnley writes: "As a past pupil of Samantha Goldstone's I feel that the way she is being treated is appalling.

"She was a great teacher and has helped many pupils in their English and Drama work.

"What she does in her personal life should not affect her role as a teacher."

And a teacher writes: "Mrs Goldstone may have been a touch naive by posting her picture on her website but what on earth has she done wrong?."

Another posted by a pupil named as "Laura" states: "I'm one of Mrs Goldstone's drama pupils and she is the best thing that has happened to this school."

But not everyone is as sympathetic, one message reads: "Do you think it is right for pupils ages 11-16 to see their teacher like this?

"St Christopher's is a respected school, and I don't think they should have teachers who do things like this."

The messages come as it emerged that her first book appears on the Good Book Guide's online monthly horror recommendations.

The guide puts her book alongside renowned author Stephen King's latest nailbiter Cell.

Her book, is published by AuthorHouse, a company which has 25,000 authors worldwide.