LAP-DANCING and stripper nights in Rossendale pubs have been given the green light.

Councillors voted to regulate lap-dancing after several landlords expressed an interest in putting on shows in their pubs.

The Queen's Hotel and Madison's Wine Bar in Rawtenstall and a Haslingden pub have inquired about the licensing regulations needed to hold lap-dancing nights in the pubs.

The Commercial Hotel in Haslingden has been holding popular topless barmaid nights for several months now and other pub landlords are believed to be interested.

But as Rossendale Council had no conditions regarding topless or lap-dancing nights within its Public Entertainment Licences the performances were virtually unregulated.

National guidelines regarding strippers, lap-dancing and topless nights have been drawn up to restrict the sort of activities that can take place, the age of performers and customers and banning audience participation.

Councillors agreed to adopt these guidelines and add them to their existing licence conditions where appropriate.