THE council which banned boxing is to allow hypnotists back into the borough.

Fears that participants might suffer long-term harm prompted Bury councillors to impose a ban nearly three years ago.

But following Home Office guidance, members have now lifted their bar on such stage shows.

Labour councillor Paul Nesbit proposed lifting the ban at Tuesday's licensing committee meeting. He was one of 23 councillors who voted to outlaw professional boxing in Bury council premises, but saw no "freedom of choice" conflict between the two votes.

"If people want to volunteer to take part at a hypnotism show, fine, they know what they are letting themselves in for," he said.

"There have been proven cases where people have been killed or had serious head injuries in the boxing ring. But on hypnotism, the review body said there were no medical risks whatsoever."

Licensing committee chairman Coun Trevor Holt, who voted against the boxing ban, said: "There was cause for concern at the time of the ban, with some very high profile national cases where people claimed there were deaths and psychological problems following shows.

"Subsequently, Parliament discussed it and a body was set up to look into hypnotism. They said they saw little or no risk of any danger. In the light of that, we saw no reason to keep the ban."

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