A POLICE investigation was launched after a Blackburn pub hosted a show featuring female strippers, but are strip shows for women just as seedy -- or just good clean fun?

Donna McKenzie went along to the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors, to find out.

A a single gunshot rang through the air, the eyes of the diners in the Towneley Suite were glued to the new arrival's weapon -- and blushing bride-to-be Michelle Keenan got a much closer view than she had expected.

Soon after stripper Marco Mancini had wriggled out of his James Bond outfit, the social worker, of Warwick Street, Church, was dragged to the "stage" to have his nether regions thrust towards her face.

Diners had just watched as Steve Dynamite, dressed in a sailor outfit, stripped to Bryan Adams' Everything I Do while touching himself and inviting the guests to rub baby oil into his chest.

After a 15-minute break they returned to peel off a fireman's uniform and Zorro outfit but this time there were no holds barred as they did the full monty and performed simulated sex acts with the audience.

The hotel, which has an entertainments licence, has hosted a few hen nights before through an agency in Manchester and, although several guests were warned in advance of the shows explicit nature, others were stunned as the baby lotion flew about the room.

Michelle, 29, who is set to marry fiance Paul Eckersall, 28, on Saturday, also at the Dunkenhalgh, said: "I was really shocked and thought he went a bit too far but I was all right about it afterwards. If I had said something I know he would have stopped.

"I came with a group of 20 friends and we have all had a brilliant night but then women go to these things for a laugh anyway -- it is not a turn-on like it is for men." Her friend, who did not want to be named, added: "This is my first time at anything like this and I didn't know what to expect but it was absolutely brilliant.

"We didn't know in advance that they would do the full monty but we were glad they did."

But for a couple of primary school teachers from Mill Hill, Blackburn, the excitement was a bit too much.

They left soon after the strippers went to get dressed, although the majority of their colleagues stayed until the end before leaving with huge grins on their faces. After a female strip show at the Boulevard pub, Blackburn, last month police launched an investigation into whether a public decency offence had been committed as church and council leaders attacked the show.

Despite repeated requests, the Dunkenhalgh was unable to comment on its show and whether it felt it was within acceptable standards.

But Father David Lyon, Rector of Accrington Team Ministry of Christ the King, said: "I am sure that God is pleased when people act with dignity and self-respect.

"But this is not something I would think was morally neutral as it is degrading to human beings.

"I understand that people find these activities a pleasant evening, whether they are male or female, or they wouldn't go.

"But there are a lot of things that don't do you any harm but are not necessarily good for you."

Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "As far as I am aware, these are basically fun nights and if that is what people wish to do, who are we to moralise and stop them?

"As long as they are not breaking the law then it is up to people what they do and how they spend their time."

For strippers Marco, 36, and Steve, 34, it was a quiet night as both are used to performing for audiences of up to 10,000 screaming women.

But Marco admits that he still gets nervous before really big shows, especially since a group of 10 over enthusiastic fans broke into his dressing room at a previous gig, leaving him no way of escape.

He said: "It was a good night here as it's a really nice venue but there were not enough here to make it a great night.

"If they had been warmed up after the meal it would have been better."

The event attracted an audience of 60 women, aged 20 to 60 plus, but the next one on August 31 is expected to attract a full house.