A COUNCILLOR who runs a hardcore porn website today resigned - then immediately announced a bid to become York's MP.

Former stripper Christine Cranfield, was asked to leave a meeting of Clifton Without Parish Council last night.

Today, she said she was working on her letter of resignation - and was setting her political sights even higher by planning to stand as an independent in the City of York constituency at the next General Election.

Christine said: "I want to get student grants re-instated and crack down on antisocial behaviour in York."

She has already compared herself with Italian porn star Illona Staller, who successfully stood as an MP in her home country.

Ex-stripper Christine vowed to carry on with her website, and said she felt the parish council had gone too far.

She said: "It is a striptease website. The text chat gets a bit hot, but it is nothing over the top."

Parish council clerk Gerry Cheetham today expressed surprise at Christine's decision.

"I got the impression she would hang on. But I think she has made the right decision for herself and the council.

"I have been ringing around the councillors to let them know. A couple said they felt she had done the right thing."

Christine said council chairman Vic Paylor had told her the porn website "breached the bounds of acceptability."

Coun Paylor asked her to leave the meeting and consider her position.

Christine gave her occupation as "exotic dancer" when she joined the council.

She claimed last night she had told her eight male and two female council colleagues the website was to advise people how to become an exotic dancer.

Christine said: "They say that wasn't what I said. But I was quite clear."

She said she would be happy to go through the website with councillors and discuss its contents with them.

"If there is anything they feel is over the top I would consider taking it out."

She said she was disappointed at being asked to leave the meeting.

"I didn't get the impression asking me to leave was a unanimous decision. Members of the public were there, but none had turned up to talk about the web site," she said.

No comment was made on the scandal until right at the end of the meeting, when council chairman Vic Paylor said: "I hope Christine receives whatever help is required for her well-being."

Later, he added: "I come from a school that thinks pornography is a sickness. It is a sickness in society today."

Coun Paylor said he believed the council had been used to get publicity for the website.

"She has done nothing wrong in law. But I would suggest that councillors come from that area of life which seeks to promote a healthy community atmosphere. I do not know that someone who is in pornographic pursuits fits that description," he said.

Updated: 10:28 Thursday, March 11, 2004