HAVING observed a police investigation being launched to determine whether an afternoon sex show taking place in a pub a stone's throw from Blackburn Cathedral -- involving female strippers writhing with half-naked customers covered in baby oil -- was an offence against public decency, this newspaper took a look at the flip side of the coin.

Namely, the so-called hen night where male strippers perform for a female audience. Such shows, of course, are no longer extraordinary. But does the commonness of them make them any less shocking?

I don't think so -- when we read of a male stripper thrusting his private parts into the face of a woman member of the audience; of another touching himself intimately while inviting women to rub baby oil on him; and others performing simulated sex acts with the audience.

Bawdy, alcohol-fuelled fun? Or outrageous obscenity? Take your pick. But isn't the fact that such antics -- whether they involve female or male strippers and men or women members of the audience -- would have got the participants and organisers locked up not so long ago?

What's different from then and now?

If you ask me, it's the naked cowardice of the authorities over upholding the laws. Perhaps they are afraid of being called prudes if they do. But, believe me, there would be lots applauding if the anything-goes sex show industry found itself in court having to justify as "decent" half-naked and oiled -- in every sense -- male pub customers writhing with these women in the middle of the afternoon and gangs of silly females engaging in simulated sex with nude men by night.

Ugh!