A WOMAN searching the internet for a job thought she had boobed when she found a position for a webcam operator. Sandra Battye, of The Paddocks, Stevenage, has been unemployed for the past year and decided to search for jobs on the Jobcentre Plus website

A WOMAN searching the internet for a job thought she had boobed when she found a position for a webcam operator.

Sandra Battye, of The Paddocks, Stevenage, has been unemployed for the past year and decided to search for jobs on the Jobcentre Plus website.

However, when she typed in 'admin work' into the search engine she found an advertisement appealing for nude operators to work four-hour shifts for £10 an hour.

The advertisement read: "Vacancy not suitable for under 18s. Do you have an internet ready computer and a web cam? If yes, Barcode18.tv is looking for adults aged 18+ for immediate start either from home or from employer site in Mitcham, Surrey. Guaranteed minimum wages per four hour shift. Duties require the successful applicant to be nude/semi nude. Please note that there is no obligation to consider making an application for this vacancy. However, if you feel it is suitable for you, please discuss it further with an adviser. Exempted vacancy - Employment Equality Act (AGE) Regulations 2006."

She said: "I thought it was very weird. I was under the impression that stripping wasn't an acceptable form of employment still."

Her partner, Dr Adrian Emery, added: "I was surprised because the people did their best to disguise the fact that it was for a nude operator. We had a laugh about it but we thought it was very odd."

A spokesman for Department for Work and Pensions said: "Jobcentre Plus has a duty to advertise any legal job. Legal vacancies within the adult industry come within this, a requirement which was confirmed in a legal test case brought by the Ann Summers company in 2003. The High Court overturned Jobcentre Plus's policy which did not accept certain types of adverts connected with the sex and personal services industries.

"We thoroughly investigate complaints about employers including those in the adult entertainment industry and service to specific employers has been withdrawn in the past.

"We have safeguards in place to ensure customers are fully aware of the nature of these jobs. Our advisers always check on the full details of any vacancies notified to us. Jobcentre Plus customers can choose whether or not to pursue these vacancies.

"Customers do not receive benefit sanctions if they do not apply for these vacancies.