The Conservative Party has backed its candidate in a crucial Worcester council byelection contest after she was named as an erotic writer who discusses sexual matters online.
The Birmingham Post revealed yesterday that Lisa Ventura, a Tory candidate in the affluent St Clement Ward in Worcester, has run an erotic website, eroticfiction.org, for seven years.
The PR and marketing consultant will be aiming to ensure the Tories cling on to power in Worcester in tomorrow's poll.
The vote is crucial for the Conservatives who risk losing control of the council if Ms Ventura fails to hold on to the party's 476 majority in the ward.
Ms Ventura was again unavailable for comment yesterday.
However, a spokesman for the Conservative Party said yesterday: "This is a private matter for the individual concerned. We are confident Lisa will be an excellent Conservative candidate for the St Clement Ward."
Ms Ventura uses the alias Rose McCaine on her unofficial website to discuss sexual encounters and to sell and review sex toys.
Soon after The Post's first phone call to Ms Ventura on Monday the eroticfiction.org website was shut down.
The Conservatives are widely expected to win the St Clement seat, which Ian Imray secured with 879 votes in May.
The Tories currently run Worcester City Council with 18 seats, compared to the 17 of the other parties combined.
