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A UKIP candidate has described how her "hormones go crazy" for gorillas at the zoo, which she finds "very attractive".

Gisela Allen, who is bidding for a seat on Glasgow City Council, made the comment in a bizarre explanation of why gay people should not "come out".

Ms Allen gave the interview to the Sunday Herald after a range of her views, including her wish to bring back execution by guillotine, went viral.

In a statement seen widely on Twitter, the 84-year-old had said: "I want the death penalty to be re-enacted. It doesn't necessarily have to be hanging. You could have the guillotine. I think the public is entitled to protection."

She also said "nurseries shouldn't get support" because women should stay at home to look after children instead of working.

And she said there must be "no sex education in school" adding: "I don't want any LGBT community - it's private life, none of anyone's business."

Contacted by the Herald, she explained that final view by comparing homosexuality to her experiences volunteering at Glasgow Zoo after her husband died - something a colleague later insisted was meant as a joke.

(Image: Getty)

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She told the Herald: "I am not anti-gay – but how can you call that a community? Sex life is everybody’s private affair. You do not come out and declare openly.

"Do you think I am going all over the city and saying my idea of a sexually-attractive creature is a gorilla?

"When I go to a zoo and I see a gorilla my hormones go absolutely crazy. I find a gorilla very attractive."

The Mirror attempted to contact Ms Allen to ask about her comments about gorillas to the Herald.

Kevin Newton, a colleague of Ms Allen's in UKIP Scotland, later got in touch and insisted she had meant the remarks as a joke.

He told the Mirror: "She has advised me that they were made as a joke, and certainly not meant to be taken seriously.

"She was genuinely shocked that they were."

He added: "As a Party, UKIP does not whip local councillors and local candidates are therefore entitled to their opinions. However I would reiterate that Ms Allen was voicing her personal views in her inimical and jocular way and that these are not the policies of UKIP Scotland."

Ms Allen, who is standing in the Garscadden/Scotstounhill seat, had made her original policy pitch to the Clydebank Post.

She also said "we are heading for World War III" and golf courses should be abolished to help the environment.

She added: "I would abolish free bus passes - these people should be encouraged to walk."

The original comments - which Ms Allen said were personal views, not UKIP policy - were branded "crap" by a party chief.

Deputy chair Suzanne Evans tweeted: "Someone has gone massively off-piste and broken every rule in the book.

"I can assure you this does not feature in our local manifesto and will not be in our national manifesto.

"Not over my dead body. Guillotined or otherwise."

Questioned on other aspects of Ms Allen's statement she added: "Let's be honest, it's all crap, isn't it?".

A UKIP spokesman said: "The good people of Garscadden are now aware of her views and can make an informed decision upon them."

The spokesman said Ms Allen continues to be a party member, and the party will decide what action to take on her views, if any, if she is elected.

He said: "One of the good things about UKIP is we don't whip our council candidates, but we may make an exception in these circumstances."

For a full list of candidates in the council ward click here.

Meanwhile UKIP today revealed its manifesto will include a pledge to ban the burqa - a U-turn from party leader Paul Nuttall's position in 2013.

Mr Nuttall told the BBC: "We have a heightened security risk at the moment and for CCTV to be effective you need to see people’s faces.

"[And] there’s the issue of integration.

"I don't believe you can integrate fully and enjoy the fruits of British society if you can’t see people’s faces."