STRIP TEASE: Prankster puts up fake lapdancing club notices in village

One of the notices displayed in the village. Pic: @djnickjones (Image: Archant)

But much to residents’ relief, it turned out the official-looking signs, purporting to be from North Herts District Council (NHDC), were actually the work of a prankster.

The signs, displayed in locations across Ickleford, said an application had been submitted to the authority to change the old Green Man pub into a Gentleman’s Club (Sui Generis) – often code for a strip and lap dancing venue.

The fakes have now been taken down, but not before a number of residents made calls to NHDC registering their concerns.

Most, however, now see the funny side.

Resident Sam Mead said: “Everyone did believe it, and everyone’s been talking about it. They saw the funny side, but not when they thought it was real.”

And Nick Jones, who runs Ickleford Stores, said: “It was a bit tongue in cheek – everyone sees it as a bit of a laugh, really.

“It took everyone by surprise. It’s quite strange that someone would go to all that effort.

“Everyone was in shock, it was total disbelief, the thought of someone trying to open anything like that in a village like Ickleford.”

The unidentified prankster included a fake reference number on the notices, using similar fonts, formatting and text NHDC does in its own notices.

The signs were removed by the authority on Monday morning.

Cllr Tom Brindley, NHDC’s portfolio holder for planning, said: “It appears that somebody decided over the weekend to place fake planning application notices in Ickleford.

“These signs have nothing to do with the council, and I can confirm that we have not discussed or received an application to convert The Green Man into a gentlemen’s club of any description.”

The Arlesey Road building is currently up for sale after McMullen took the decision to close the pub earlier this year. No applications have been submitted and its future is still unknown.