A Selby nightclub plans to host its first male strippers' show, which is expected to be a sell-out.

Tony Sambridge, owner of Jems nightclub, in Ousegate, said nearly 200 tickets had already been sold for the Full Monty show on Saturday, July 27.

The group of male strippers from Sheffield, known as the Real Monty, will be strutting their stuff on stage between 8pm and 11pm.

Admission is £20 and the raunchy show is strictly for women only.

Mr Sambridge insisted: "It isn't a seedy male stripper night. They are a proper dance act."

The same act was a sell-out when they got their kit off for the women of Tadcaster four years ago at the town's Riley Smith Hall.

Selby district councillor Jean Ashton, who was among the audience at the Tadcaster show, gave the hunks "eleven out of ten".

She welcomed the group's return to Selby district and dismissed the idea that male strippers might offend public decency.

Coun Ashton said: "There's no harm in it. I wouldn't have minded taking them home with me.

"The woman sat next to me was 76 and told me she had never enjoyed herself so much in her life."

But fellow councillor Rachel Cunliffe said she was not happy about the show and thought it would offend some people in the town.

She said: "I think we have enough trouble in the town without having something like this.

"I wouldn't want anyone in my family going to see something like that."

The night will be the first of its kind at the club. Tickets have so far proved popular with women of all ages and more than half of them have already been snapped up.

Mr Sambridge said: "It will also be our first all-inclusive night at the club. For £20 admission women will be able to drink as much as they like until 11pm."

If the night is a success, Mr Sambridge said he would be looking at having an all-inclusive night every Saturday, and a women's night with male strippers every two or three months.

selby@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 14:44 Monday, July 15, 2002