PEACE campaigner Helen John has launched an election challenge against the Prime Minister from her prison cell.

She has registered to stand against Tony Blair in the Sedgefield constituency.

Her campaign will be run from her cell in Askham Grange Women's Prison, in Askham Richard, near York, where she is serving a three-month prison sentence for causing damage to the boundary fence at the US spy base at Menwith Hill, near Harrogate.

A spokeswoman for John said: "Helen has applied to the prison governor for a day release so that she will be able to attend the election count on June 7."