COUNCILLORS last night voted to keep Blackburn's "G-string rule" and stop girls at East Lancashire's only lap-dancing club from going full frontal.

Mangers at the Velvet Lounge, in Duke Street, had asked Blackburn with Darwen Council's licensing committee for permission to allow dancers to go fully nude.

Before the meeting the club's X-rated dancers were not allowed to bare all for customers. Managers said they wanted to let girls reveal all because local men wanted full frontal nudity.

Full nude dancing is allowed in Preston and is some clubs in Manchester and Blackpool.

Georgia Elliott, the club's boss, said men would take their business out of Blackburn if the application was turned down.

Before the meeting, she said: "The girls I have working for me work at clubs across the country where they are allowed to go fully nude.

"The business has been successful but a lot of our customers are saying to us that they can go elsewhere nearby and get full nudity.

"We need the council to catch up with other councils so we can compete evenly with other venues."

But councillors voted against the move.

Coun Edward Harrison said: "Where is it going to end?

"We are going down the slippery slope and we need to make a stand."

When the club was first proposed, there was outrage from the church community, moral campaigners and health chiefs.

Members of the committee were shown photographs of the club's interior and a copy of the Velvet Lounge's "dance rules".

They ban girls from propositioning customers and say all clothing except thongs could be removed during a dance. The rules add that girls who move their thongs "to one side" will be sacked.

Councillors had visited the club when it opened in July last year to inspect the premises.

A council report said police officers had also visited the premises and given the club the all clear.