TABLE dancing, the American craze that is sweeping Britain, is coming to Bury.

But Mr John Saul, owner of Monty's Nightspot, said the sexy dance routines by girls hired from a Manchester agency "would be in the best possible taste."

The girls will be getting into their stride this afternoon.

"At the moment we're just trying it out, seeing if Bury is ready for it yet," said Mr Saul.

Dancers will perform for customers at the bar in return for tokens they buy from behind the bar.

Known as lap dancing in America, it hit the headlines when nightclub entrepreneur Peter Stringfellow introduced it to Britain.

In Manchester the Fantasy Bar has table dancing, and that caused controversy with the city council.

But Mr Saul stressed that the acts did not involve nudity and said customers would have to abide by a strict code of behaviour.

"The customers will not be allowed to touch the girls or abuse them verbally in any way," he said. "We will have several doormen on the floor at any time."

Customers who buy tokens "pay" the dancers by putting the voucher into a garter, suspender belt or boot.

"That is the only time there would be any contact," said Mr Saul. "The aim is to be erotic but without being rude - the girls will be scantily clad, but not nude or topless.

"We aren't going to put it on at night when people have had a few drinks," he added. "It's just something else for the men to enjoy when they come in for a drink during the day."

Mr Saul hopes that the prices - £1 a dance - would help pull in the punters, when other clubs were charging up to ten times more. He said: "We have booked two dancers, but if it takes off then we will get a few more. If it is really successful we will start doing it on Sundays as well."

The Monty's dancers have performed at the Manchester Fantasy Bar.

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