TEACHERS were today demanding an end to state funding for all faith schools by 2020.

Members of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers were condemning Prime Minister Tony Blair's plans for handing religious groups a bigger role in state education.

The proposals risk segregating communities and taking schools back to the 19th Century, delegates were telling the union's annual conference in Gateshead.

Speaking ahead of the debate, Hank Roberts, from the union's national executive, said: "Tony Blair and the Government are determined to start increasing the number of faith schools in this country. This is stirring up a lot of problems for the future in terms of a rise in fundamentalism."

Mr Roberts, from Brent in north London, is supporting a motion which demands new laws to stop religious organisations gaining more influence over state schools.

It calls for action to prevent faith groups teaching "creationism or intelligent design as valid alternatives to evolution".

The motion argues for an end to state funding for all faith schools by 2020.