Darling Buds of May village in uproar as pub landlord launches daily strip club

For its 3,500 inhabitants, the allure of East Peckham has always been peace, rural gentility and a Darling Buds of May- style landscape of Victorian oast houses.

But the charm of a community at the heart of Kent's hoppicking country has been disturbed by some rather more basic attractions.

To the dismay of parishioners, a struggling pub landlord is employing strippers four nights a week to pull in custom.

Two large blackboards have appeared outside The Harp Inn proclaiming to passers-by: "Erotic dancers. Weds, Thurs, Fri and Sat. From 5pm."

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But while Lee Swainsbury hopes the shows will turn around the fortunes of his pub, locals are up in arms, claiming it will ruin the reputation of the village.

Reverend Anthony Carr, vicar of Holy Trinity Church, has written to the parish council demanding a ban on the shows.

"This is not the sort of place for this type of activity," he said. "The villagers work hard to maintain the right sort of image for this village and we don't want it spoiled by allowing undesirables into our community.

"I realise there are pubs in towns and cities who offer this sort of entertainment but it is totally out of place in a quiet country village."

Mother-of-four Jody Baker, 36, who lives near the pub, said: "I couldn't believe it when I saw the signs. I have to walk past it with my kids and I find it very uncomfortable."

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Unfortunately, the guardians of taste in East Peckham appear to have missed their chance to halt the enterprise, as the licence Mr Swainsbury was granted when he bought the pub's 30-year lease in 2005 makes provision for 'adult entertainment'.

He and his wife Natasha say they spent £60,000 on refurbishments but could not entice the extra business to earn a reasonable return on their investment.

"We tried everything we could think of to bring people through the doors but none of the local residents supported the pub," said Mr Swainsbury.

"I had no option but to think of something else. We still run at a loss but my trade has increased so there is a market for it.

"I don't want to upset the community but we're a couple with a family and we've got to survive."

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Parish council chairman Peter Crawford said: "A number of people thought it was in bad taste and certainly a degree of disgust was aired. Unfortunately, however, the dancing activities don't breach the terms of the pub's licence and there's nothing we can do."

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council's chief solicitor Duncan Robinson said of the licence application:

"The only objections were about parking. Nothing was mentioned with regard to the dancing so we had no alternative but to grant the licence. It would be near impossible for residents to reverse the decision now."