Lapdance victory for MP

A Stourbridge MP who feared the town would become "the Soho of the Black Country" has won her fight for tighter controls on lapdancing clubs.

Home secretary Jacqui Smith said gentlemen's clubs will now be classed the same as "sex establishments" rather than as cafes and karaoke clubs,

Lynda Waltho hopes the change will give people more power to stop lap dancing clubs opening nearby.

It also means the council, police and residents will get more chance to object when an application is made and any objections will have to be taken into consideration.

The MP said reclassifying lap dancing clubs as 'sex establishments' would let councils consider a wider range of community interests when they decide on a licence. The changes will be included in legislation in the Policing and Crime Bill later this parliamentary session.