COUNTY councillor Olive McIntosh-Stedman is facing renewed calls to quit as it emerged she was considering an appeal against her sentence for benefit fraud.

Last month, the 65-year-old was found guilty at Oxford Crown Court of making a false statement to obtain council tax benefit.

She was acquitted of a similar charge by a jury after the two-day trial.

However, more than 85 per cent of people who took part in an online poll thought the former nurse should quit her position at Oxfordshire County Council.

Close friend Lizia Clare, who met McIntosh-Stedman while they were both nurses at the former Littlemore Hospital in 1973, said she was considering an appeal.

Mrs Clare, 58, of Barns Road, Cowley, was unsurprised to hear the results of the poll.

But she added: "I don't think she should resign - she's a good councillor. It's a shame because she has worked hard all her life."

Mrs Clare, who sat through the court case with her friend, said she believed McIntosh-Stedman failed to complete her benefit forms properly because she was overwhelmed with personal issues at the time.

She said: "I don't know what made her do it, she said to me she forgot. She said to me if everyone wanted her out, she would get out. It depends how much will-power she's got."

Mrs Clare said she had been shouted at in the street by people for sticking by McIntosh-Stedman.

McIntosh-Stedman, who represents the Cowley and Littlemore division, failed to declare her monthly NHS pension, a savings account and a County Hall allowance on her benefit forms in December, 2002.

This led to her being overpaid by more than £3,000, although she has since repaid the money. McIntosh-Stedman, of Williamson Way, Rose Hill, denied the charges but was found guilty and given 50 hours' unpaid community work and told to pay £5,000 costs.

Oxford City Council had wanted the court to order she paid back £14,000 - the cost of bringing the case before a jury.

She was expelled from the Labour party and now sits as an independent councillor.

Former city councillor Bill Buckingham, who has lived in Rose Hill for 70 years, joined those calling for her to quit.

He said: "It's my opinion she would not get voted in next time anyway. She should resign - but she won't."

McIntosh-Stedman was unavailable for comment.