A JAILED peace activist has vowed to continue her fight to be allowed to attend an election count to the last possible minute.

And supporters of Helen John, running as an independent candidate in Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency, County Durham, are urging people to write to Home Secretary Jack Straw to protest about the decision.

Ms John, who is serving three months in Askham Grange Women's Prison, in York, for criminal damage to Menwith Hill military base in North Yorkshire, has been told she cannot attend the count with an escort.

Veteran Labour politician Tony Benn has backed her claims that she is being denied her democratic rights.

Ms John is unable to appoint an election agent to act in her stead because the deadline has past.

She said: "If one candidate has an impediment, this must affect the others negatively as well."

She said this puts her at a disadvantage, even though she is unlikely to win, because only the candidate or her agent can make representations to the Returning Officer in cases of spoiled or unclear votes.