A FAITH school headteacher's tweet in which she argued that evolution was 'not a fact' has sparked an online debate.

More than 60 comments have been made on the article published on the Lancashire Telegraph's website on Saturday.

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The tweet by Christina Wilkinson, headteacher at St Andrew’s CE Primary School in Oswaldtwistle, has since been removed and the account taken down.

The post, from the @WilkinsonHead account, read: “Evolution is not a fact. That’s why it’s called a theory! There’s more evidence that the Bible is true.”

Commentators have come out for and against her views, with others debating the merits of evolution.

One comment, under the name 'Excluded again', said: "Scientific theories are the best explanation for the evidence that we currently have.

"Scientific theories are always vulnerable to new evidence which can change the theory but not the evidence itself.

"So the current theory of gravity may be replaced in the future as new evidence of how gravity works is found.

"But that does not mean that there is no such thing as gravity and that you are at risk of floating into space."

'Woolywords' said: "I really don't see the problem here, as the woman is paid to teach theology, not believe in it."

However others criticised Ms Wilkinson's tweet, saying that a headteacher should not express her own views in public.

'HelmshoreMan2010' said: "I have nothing against teaching every story/theory to kids and letting them make up their own mind.

"But I don't think she should be able to show bias towards one side of the coin and risking influencing young minds.

"The world won't end if we all believe something different. It's when we try to convince the next guy that problems are born."

The debate online also included numerous defences and challenges to the theory of evolution.

Commenters listed possible reasons why the theory is correct or not with others coming up with reasons why the headteacher shared her views.

'Chris1362' said: "I think the headteacher is making the point that whilst evolution is the best explanation of the available evidence, there is an an awful lot that we still don't know."

Tony Greaves said: "Of course evolution is a fact; it is clearly shown in the fossil record. It happened, full stop.

"Over the last billion years (or more). It should be taught as a fact."