A GROUP of Cornwall councillors who agreed on a fact-finding mission to a lap-dancing club found it 'extremely worthwhile,' they said.

Ten members of Cornwall Council's miscellaneous licensing committee, including chairman Jim Flashman from Sevenstones, joined three council officers in a trip to Temptations T2 gentlemen's club on Union Street in Plymouth last month.

A few days earlier, new Government legislation was adopted by the committee, reclassifying lap-dancing clubs as sexual entertainment venues.

The members said the trip would give them greater understanding of the industry when deciding on future licensing applications for similar establishments, despite campaigners describing the move as 'appalling and unnecessary' and a waste of taxpayers' money.

Mr Flashman said: 'This has been an extremely worthwhile visit. It has clarified many questions for the committee and will enable us to make fully informed decisions in the future.'

Vice-chairman Lisa Dolley said; 'As a woman I have never had the opportunity or reason to visit such clubs and without this visit I would be completely uninformed.

'We have seen what appears to be an extremely well-run club and we now have a model to work with our policy and decision making.'