DANCERS at a lapdancing bar in Oxford breached club rules by dancing within one metre of the customers, a court heard yesterday.

In December, Oxford City Council allowed Thirst Lodge, in Pennyfarthing Place, to change its licence to allow lapdancing.

But members of St Ebbe’s Church opposite appealed against the decision and an appeal hearing started at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

The venue has been operating as a lapdancing club, also known as The Lodge, since February.

Club tenant Rob Opher told Deputy District Judge Gary Lucie: “The performers are self-employed. Some clubs do not have the (one-metre) rule and it took time for us and them (the dancers) to adjust, and for us to monitor that. The performers who are happy to agree with the rule remain working for us.”

Tony Cope, licensing coordinator for Thames Valley Police, told the court that shortly after the club opened as a lapdancing venue in February, an anonymous complaint was made to the city council suggesting that the one-metre distance rule was being breached.

He viewed video footage and found that dancers were performing “well within” the one-metre limit. Following the discovery, the city council as the licensing authority pointed out the breach of club rules to Mr Opher.

Mr Cope added: “It was a breach of conditions rather than anything to do with crime and disorder.”

The case continues.