A furious mother has blasted Asda for selling a top with the slogan Boys Will Be Boys - claiming it 'perpetuates rape culture'.

Debbie Dee, from Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, said the phrase on the children's jumper is 'problematic' and could encourage youngsters to launch sex attacks.

She claimed the £4 garment left her 'gobsmacked and raging' as she took to Facebook to blast the supermarket chain.

Web developer Dee also raised fears that the jumper is 'presupposing that gender is binary' and asked: 'What about when boys are not boys?'

Debbie claimed the £4 garment, pictured, left her 'gobsmacked and raging'

She added that the phrase is 'used to excuse bad behaviour (in boys and men) like hitting, being destructive or boisterous'.

Dee also claimed the phrase goes 'as far as excusing rape and sexual assault'.

But her Facebook rant has sparked an angry backlash from other parents disagreeing with her views.

Commenting on the post, which racked up thousands of likes and shares before being deleted, Mairi Grant said: 'Never heard anything so ridiculous in all my life! It's just a bit of humour and one thing is for sure it would describe my 3 boys to a T.

'If anyone seriously thinks that this jumper is going to cause a child to become a problem then they need their heads read.'

Daniel Watson commented: 'I feel sorry for this woman and relieved that I'll never be "gobsmacked & raging" by a jumper!

Explaining her reasons for complaining, Dee wrote on Facebook: 'Let me be clear: I'm not "offended" by this jumper. I am angry that it is for sale as I think the phrase "boys will be boys" is very problematic.'

'Offence is only ever taken, not given....just chose not to be offended by things & instead focus on the positive things in your life.'

Shaun Wilson joked: 'Words on a t-shirt could lead to further problems in life you know, just like when I wear my Superdry jumper down the high street and everybody starts bringing me water and offering medical assistance.'

Trevor Eakin added: I quite literally have no words to explain how shocked and disappointed I am that anyone could possibly find this offensive.

'What is wrong with some people? Every time I think we can't become more of a nanny state where every one is so hurt and upset by such trivial matters some blithering idiot proves me wrong. Oh...... wait...... I just found the words.'

Dee has now complained to Asda's head office over the blue garment and urged other parents to do the same.

Her Facebook post about the garment has racked up thousands of shares and likes - but has also sparked outrage from other parents

The jumper appears as 'out of stock' on the supermarket's website.

Explaining her reasons for complaining, Dee wrote on Facebook: 'Let me be clear: I'm not "offended" by this jumper. I am angry that it is for sale as I think the phrase "boys will be boys" is very problematic.

'It has historically and still is used to excuse bad behaviour (in boys and men) like hitting, being destructive or boisterous. And even as far as excusing rape and sexual assault.

'Look I get it. Most people say this and don't mean any harm by it.

'But boys having their behaviour excused like this from an early age - this message of being above the rules, it sticks.

Following the outrage, a spokesman for Asda said: 'Our aim is to make clothes people love, never to offend'

'It also implied that boys have no impulse control. Boys are perfectly capable of respecting people and property.

'This idea trivialises male behaviour and is the beginning of how society has one rule and set of expectations for boys and another for girls.

'In my opinion, this particular phrase perpetuates rape culture.

'How many women have been harassed by men and had it explained away as "boys will be boys"?

'I know a mum of a 6 year old who was cornered recently by 4 boys, saying she had to kiss them. The parents of the boys said "oh they're just boys being boys".

'And I haven't even touched on the whole issue of this presupposing that gender is binary. What about when boys are not boys?'

A spokesman for Asda said: 'Our aim is to make clothes people love, never to offend.'

The supermarket has previously faced fury over inappropriate clothing after it sold padded bras for girls as young as nine.

It also sold underwear promoting the popular Disney film High School Musical for seven-year-old girls - with the words 'Dive In' printed on them.