SHOCKED business leaders have spoken out after a Preston town centre bar applied for permission to hold lap dancing.

The licensee of Number 10 cafe bar, in Lune Street, contacted Preston Borough Council shortly after Christmas seeking permission to hold lap dancing and table dancing.

The application has caused fury among some members of the town's Chamber of Trade who believe such a move would "lower the tone of the town".

As lap dancing is not illegal, licensing officers from the council are currently checking the application to decide whether or not it will be granted.

Mike Thorpe, head of licensing for Preston Borough Council, said: "Permission will be granted as soon as we have checked. It is imminent really. If they can comply with the conditions, consent will be given. The law allows lap dancing."

Despite the reputation of lap dancing clubs, any establishment can apply for their public entertainment licence to include lap dancing, as long as they follow the rules set out by the local council.

Mr Thorpe said: "These conditions introduce a control, and some control is better than none. Anything indecent is in breach of the entertainment licence. For instance we would stop it if full nudity was involved."

But Glen Turner, licensee of Number 10, is adamant his bar is not set to become Preston's answer to Stringfellow's, and says he has no firm plans to run lap dancing in the near future.

He said: "We are looking at all different avenues. There is no guarantee it is going to be a lap dance club.

"We have also gone for a one o'clock licence, and we are looking into an a-la-carte restaurant. When we apply for entertainment licences, we have got to keep all our options open. Nothing is hard and fast.

"Preston policies on licences are very, very strict. You have got to explore all the different avenues. But we are quite happy with the clientele we have got."

But local businesses are not happy with the idea of a lap dancing club in such a central position.

Julia Horn, general manager of Preston chamber of trade, an organisation set up to protect the interests of local businesses, said: "We are all for encouraging business to come into the town but not at the expense of principles. We have got to draw the line somewhere.

"I think we want to raise the tone of the town rather than lower it. I don't think this is the type of thing Preston wants in the town centre. I can't see that this is going to improve business in the town.

"I really think we need to make a stand on these things."

Preston MP Mark Hendrick said he thought the location was inappropiate. He said: "I am not against there being a bar like this in principle. But if people do wish to open such places I think it is better they do it in a more suitable place."

The bar, which used to be a pizza outlet, is just three doors down from Lune Street Methodist Church.

Reverend Derek North said: "Something like this is more fitting to the areas of town that deal with late-night people.

"I wouldn't directly oppose it, but I would very much question the contribution to the society that we would want to have."