A headteacher, sacked after a convicted paedophile worked on her school's website, has appealed against her dismissal.

Kathleen Tyson was dismissed for gross misconduct by the governing body at Holy Trinity Primary School, Darwen, following a disciplinary hearing.

The National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) said she had until April 20 to appeal against the decision and the regional officer confirmed that Mrs Tyson had lodged an appeal.

Mrs Tyson, who joined the Darwen school as head from a school in Leyland two years ago, had known the man was a convicted sex offender when she asked him to carry out "text- based" work.

It was stressed by the union that he had never entered the school or come into contact with children.

Mrs Tyson was suspended and escorted from the premises in January after education officials and police launched a probe into work carried out for the website by a man on the sex offenders register.

Police seized computer equipment from Mrs Tyson's house as part of the investigation which was later returned to her.

Mrs Tyson was sacked from her post at the end of March.

NAHT regional officer Ian Beck said: "Kathleen Tyson has lodged an appeal and will have her case heard by of a panel of three governors who did not hear the original disciplinary hearing.

"We are taking this process one step at a time. "

The panel is expected to hear the appeal within 20 days.