A TEACHER from Whitefield, who is under investigation for her gothic vampire websites and novels, has received support from her students.

Controversy erupted when a vampire novel written by Samantha Goldstone, an English and drama teacher at St Christopher's CE High School in Accrington, appeared in a good book guide alongside famous horror author Stephen King.

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".

Parents lodged complaints with the school and the teacher, who lives in Whitefield, has agreed to stay away from the church school, where she has taught at three years, while they are looked into.

Headteacher Alasdair Coates has revealed the investigation will involve allegations Mrs Goldstone told pupils her pen name and openly read her work to students.

However, many past and present students at the school have leapt to the teacher's defence.

One wrote: "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."