EAST Lancashire's first lap-dancing club has shut its doors six months after it first opened amid a storm of controversy.

Council bosses said The Velvet Lounge in Duke Street, Blackburn, has been closed since December because of a "business decision".

The club was first opened in July last year after managers spent an estimated £400,000 refurbishing the former Cubes nightclub.

Although nobody at the club could be contacted to comment, a council official said he believed there were plans for it to re-open next month.

The new club caused controversy among health experts and church leaders who feared it would lead to town centre problems and a general degrading of the town.

There were also fears of an increase in sex attacks carried out by drunken men over-stimulated by the sight of naked women.

But bosses insisted that the club, which was aimed at the executive end of the market, would actually enhance the quality of entertainment on offer in Blackburn.

When Blackburn with Darwen Council's licensing department granted the club permission to open, its members promised to re-inspect the premises at a later date.

According to a report council officers were sent to the club to carry out an investigation and police officers have visited several times.

The report adds that a complaint was lodged with the council's licensing department during the club's opening week.

A spokesman said: "This was from six Christian men who were concerned about the social, spiritual and moral impact that this club would have on the town. No further complaints have been received."

And licensing committee chairman Ronald O'Keefe said residents living nearby had not been affected.

He added: "There aren't a lot of people who live in that area, but none have complained.

"Before it was a lap-dancing club there were a lot of complaints about noise so you could say their lives have been improved."

However the club is expected to reopen and the council has been given a new opening date of February 21.

Mike Hall, environmental health manager, said: "Velvet Lounge has been closed post-Christmas and this seems to be a business decision.

"Their public entertainment licence is currently being renewed and we anticipate that will be effective next week in readiness for a re-opening shortly."

The dancers earned, on average, £1,000 a week and strict licensing conditions stated that dancers would only be allowed to strip to their G-strings.

There were also house rules such as a "no touching" policy.

The owners convinced the licensing committee that the club would be too pricey for most older teenagers.