BIDS have been made to bring lap dancing clubs to York, it was revealed today.

But all these approaches have been successfully resisted so far, according to police licensing officer Dave Boag.

He was speaking after the Evening Press reported last night how Blue Box Leisure planned to open a raunchy "Coyote bar" at the former Bedroom in Micklegate, featuring sexily-clad girls who will dance behind and on the bar - but will not perform striptease.

Blue Box, which runs lap dancing clubs called Blue Leopard in Leeds and Liverpool, said they did not plan to open one in York, at least for the time being, because of "licensing difficulties".

Blue Box said the Coyote dancing activities would not require a variation in the existing licence for the former Bedroom, now called The Room.

PC Boag said that a handful of independent organisations had contacted the York authorities in the last three years with a view to opening a lap dancing club.

He said there had been discussions between the prospective applicants, police licensing officers and City of York Council officers - after which none of them had decided to press ahead with a formal application.

"It's up to them to decide if they want to make an application, but we have tried to make it difficult," he said. "We have made it clear this is a historical city, run as a tight ship with regards to licensing.

"We don't want the potential increase in crime and disorder that lap dancing clubs can bring with them. And there would be safety issues for the girls that would be dancing."

He said another factor was York's image as an upmarket tourist city, the second most popular destination in Britain.

He said there had not been any interest in York from major operators such as Spearmint Rhino, which has lap dancing clubs in places such as Harrogate.

He said such organisations were not interested in York because, unlike Harrogate, the city did not have a major conference trade and they felt there would not be sufficient clientele.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York Tourism Bureau, said a lap dancing club would not help it in its efforts to target market segments such as Americans, Belgians, Dutch and Germans, and slightly older people.

"The city's primary attractions for these groups are its heritage and shopping," she said.

"There might be an interest from people considering York as a weekend destination, such as large single sex parties, but we are not proactively encouraging these groups."

Updated: 10:21 Thursday, April 14, 2005