A RAUNCHY charity night has been halted at the last minute after club owners were warned they could be breaking local obscenity bye-laws. About 250 tickets had been sold for the Ladies' Night at the Greenfield Private Members' Club in Westhoughton. The acts booked for the event were drag artist Drew Christie and two male exotic dancers.

The decision comes at the same time as the film The Full Monty - about a team of male strippers - tops the video chart and is up for a best picture Oscar later this month.

But tonight's event, with proceeds due to go to Derian House Children's Hospice, was called off late yesterday after discussions with council officers.

Today club owners William and Angela Richards were urgently circulating the message to ticket holders that the event was off.

Mrs Richards said: "It's incredibly late notice but we don't feel we have any other option.

"The situation is a bit confusing though. We saw publicity only yesterday for three groups of male exotic dancers due to appear at Ritzy."

The cancelled night at the Wigan Road club is the latest controversy involving the Bolton bye-law.

Last December a charity night including exotic dancers at the City Hotel in Halliwell was blocked by the council's environmental health department.

A bye-law first set up in 1843, and since renewed, bans indecent exposure.

Council officials were investigating the situation today before making a formal statement.

Ritzy promotions manager Dave Evans said their show will go on tonight with Men On Top appearing on stage.

But he added: "The police licensing officer saw the publicity and warned us about the bye-law. We will ask the group to tone things down but we want more discussions about the rules. Maybe they can be changed and updated."

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