LEWD acts and illicit lap-dancing have been taking place at an East Lancashire nightclub, the Lancashire Evening Telegraph can reveal.

The sleazy acts have been happening at The New Top Club, Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors, during its weekly topless barmaid nights, supposed to be for members only.

Last summer, Hyndburn Council's licensing committee drew up strict rules to cover any applications it might receive for lap-dancing.

Private members' clubs like the New Top Club are not obliged to apply for such permission, because the general public are not supposed to be allowed in.

But our reporters walked straight into the club without being challenged during two consecutive Thursday night topless sessions, despite signs warning that admission was for members only.

We have now passed on a dossier of information to the police. During the Evening Telegraph's first visit, barmaid Mae Ling, who was said to be from Hong Kong, lap-danced for one man in his 30s, whose friends had clubbed together to pay the £5 fee. She stripped naked before committing indecent acts.

She then lap-danced and stripped in front of a middle-aged man. The man, who was taking photographs throughout the evening, then started dancing naked with her and tried to commit an indecent act.

A man then paid Mae Ling £10 and asked for a 21st birthday treat. Club owner Mohammed Nasir, who was commentating on the action over the club's PA system, told her to give him "something really special".

The man laid face down on the floor and Mae Ling poured beer over his naked body and committed indecent acts with him, while other customers took photographs. Mae Ling later came round collecting money for a strip show at 11.20pm. She told customers afterwards that she would have done a more explicit show if more money had been put into the collection.

On both weeks, Mr Nasir openly fondled the barmaids and encouraged customers to touch Mae Ling's bare backside for free. He bragged that he could have sex with the topless barmaids without paying.

Last Thursday, a young blonde barmaid called Caroline, from Accrington, allowed punters to commit indecent acts on her for £2 a time. Mr Nasir told customers the only reason that there was no strip show was because it was only Caroline's third time and she was shy.

Other customers paid £1 to have bar staff take their picture while touching Caroline's semi-naked body.

Mr Nasir kept the bar open 20 minutes late and mouthed obscenities about the police over the PA system.

When initially contacted about the allegations, Mr Nasir said: "The only thing that goes on here is topless barmaids.

"Sometimes there is a strip show at the end of the night. But this is a private members club with free membership so everyone who comes in has to sign in." But when our reporter told Mr Nasir he had witnessed the acts first-hand, he admitted that lap-dancing and indecent acts described had taken place.

He said: "Some of the girls do let people do naughty things to them, but it is only for a laugh. I just pay them to work topless behind the bar, I don't expect anything else. But if they are doing something extra for fun and to get some money to take home, that's good for them."

He said there had been no membership checks because the doorman was off sick following an accident.

Mr Nasir conceded that it was his duty as licensee to maintain good standards at the club.

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