Fake tan mess threatens event

Bodybuilders left a Black Country civic hall smeared with fake tan after a national competition, prompting fears similar events in the future could be called off.

Competitors at the National Amateur Bodybuilding Association's Allsports Novice Finals and British Youth Championships 2007 left seats and walls coated with the tanning lotion following the event. The mess led to complaints from cleaners and an alleged vow from the hall's new manager that the long-running event would not be staged there in future.

The contest has been held at Brierley Hill Civic Hall for the past 30 years and has attracted thousands of bodybuilders from all over the world.

The event's organiser, Jim Charles, who runs Jim's Gym in Lye, said he had been approached by the hall's manager after last month's event and told he would not be invited back in the future.

"I have been holding these events two or three times a year for the past 30 years and I've never had any problems before,"he said.

"The problem is to show off their bodies they have to put fake tan on to display their muscles.

"Unfortunately the tan comes off easily and tends to go everywhere when the competitors sit down or lean against the walls. If they don't put the tan on their bodies look as white as a sheet under the lights.

"I've always come in myself the next day and spent hours cleaning to make sure the place is left immaculate, but the new manager wouldn't let me in this time.

But Tim Jones, manager of Dudley Concert Hall and Brierley Hill Civic Hall, today denied he told Mr Charles he would not be allowed to hold bodybuilding events at the hall in the future.

"I have not told him he can't hold another event at the hall, but I did tell him there were concerns about the mess left from the events that needed to be resolved," he said. This has been an ongoing problem for some time and it seems to be getting worse and we need to sit down and find a way forward."

Chris Howes, spokesman for Dudley Council, said there had been no suggestion similar events would not be allowed in council halls in the future and added steps were being taken to avoid a repetition of the recent problems.