HULL business leaders have defended their decision to name porn star Poppy Morgan in a brochure that helped the city secure UK City of Culture.
The adult movie award-winning actress, who is from the city, was featured alongside Sir Tom Courtenay and Maureen Lipman in a section on film and television.
The guide was used as part of an official document presented to the judges who awarded Hull its 2017 title.
About 10,000 copies have been distributed in public buildings.
Business marketing group Bondholders jointly produced the guide with the city council at a total cost of £7,000.
The organisation's marketing manager Nicola Baker said: "The Culture Guide has proven to be enormously popular with cultural organisations and the public.
"It has also been an excellent form of promotion of the Hull city of culture bid and was used extensively as a backdrop on the day when Hull was announced as the winner, being featured on national and international media reports.
"A large number of groups and individuals contributed suggestions of people, places and events for inclusion. Poppy Morgan is an acclaimed actress – albeit in the adult film industry. She won Best Female Actress of the Year at the 2006 UK Adult Film and Television Awards in London. The Secret Diary of a Call Girl featuring Billie Piper has been nominated for Best Softcore Production in the same awards.
"This guide is clearly not about condoning porn but it is about celebrating Hull's diversity of culture and entertainment."
Ms Morgan was unavailable for comment yesterday.
