A FORMER page 3 pin-up and glamour actress, who has just turned 60, is to challenge Tony Blair for his Sedgefield seat in the next General Election.

Cherri Gilham, a Hill's Angel on The Benny Hill Show who appeared in the movie The Stud, is standing against the Prime Minister because she felt powerless when opposing the War in Iraq.

The pensioner, who plans to abolish ageism, has had flings with Sylvester Stallone and Omar Sharif. She has no experience of politics, but believes she understands what makes people tick.

Ms Gilham wants to change her name by deed poll to Cherri Blair Out Gilham and was due in Sedgefield this week to garner support for her campaign.

She has spent much of her life starring in saucy films, TV shows and posing for glamour shots in newspapers like The Sun and the Mirror.

She said: "I am doing this to directly oppose Tony Blair. I have never felt so powerless before.

"I feel worried that Bush will lead Blair into a war with Iran and that it will end in nuclear war."

Ms Gilham lives in Wandsworth, London and said a peace march she went on with her 29-year-old son two years ago was the turning point in her life.

She was so angry the Prime Minister ignored the protest, she decided to get into politics.

She travelled to Edinburgh and met maverick Scottish MP George Galloway, who was expelled from the Labour Party, and told him: "I am about to be a pensioner, tell me everything about politics."

Ms Gilham worked as an export manager for Twiggy Dresses and has written for national newspapers.

Before her visit she said: "I have never been to Sedgefield before, they don't know what going to hit them."

John Burton, constituency agent for Sedgefield, said: "Anyone is entitled to stand for election, but I am sure the people of the Sedgefield constituency are happy with their MP."