A COUNCILLOR told of her unsettling experience at the hands of a stage hypnotist during a discussion about Paul McKenna's forthcoming Bournemouth show.

Cllr Barbara Siberry told members of the environment licensing sub-committee meeting that she ended up suspended in mid-air by the hypnotist after friends urged her onto the stage.

Mrs Siberry mentioned her experience during a discussion on whether to allow popular stage hypnotist Paul McKenna to perform at the Pavilion Theatre in Westover Road on Thursday night.

Mrs Siberry said she remembered nothing of the experience until colleagues told her what had happened later.

Councillors agreed to allow Mr McKenna's performance and also to allow him to perform in the future.

Speaking after the meeting, Mrs Siberry said she just wanted to warn people that not all stage hypnotists may be as ethical as Paul McKenna.

She said: "It was about 15 years ago at a conference. I was with a group of friends and business colleagues.

"When the hypnotist asked for volunteers they said: 'Here's one' and pushed me up on stage.

"I did not wish to be a killjoy, I did not believe in it and I thought I would know what was going on, but I was not aware of anything.

"My friends said I was raised up on an ironing board in the air with nothing underneath me. The last thing I remembered was being asked to sit on the ironing board.

She added: "I came away totally unscathed. Obviously he must have been a reputable one.

"But if they have this power then we must look in greater detail at these people.

"Having had this experience myself I think all hypnotists should have to be regulated. I am sure there are some extremely good hypnotists who do a lot of good, work particularly with regard to health and stress and people's emotional problems. But people should be warned that not all hypnotists may be so ethical."