A Worthing pub owner today denied licensing rules were broken when a gay stripper performed during a birthday party.

Pictures of the event at The Jack Horner, in Worthing town centre, were placed on the pub's website.

Owner Nick Heryet said the show staged at the end of August was for a private party and the event was not advertised on a billboard outside.

He stressed there was no contact between the performer and any of the audience, despite risqu pictures which show a simulated sex act.

Mr Heryet said he was not aware of any complaints about the show and had not been approached by police.

The pictures showing a stripper and a customer have now been taken off the web site.

Mr Heryet said: "There was not a sex act. They were not having sex on stage."

The show was staged to mark the pub's fourth birthday and some customers had brought their parents along.

He said: "Do you need a licence for a kissagram? Not to my knowledge. It was a 15-minute show.

"I was shocked the stripper went as far as he did but there was still no harm done."

David Bowen, Worthing Borough Council's environmental health manager, said: "No complaint has been made against the pub but the matter has been brought to our attention and is under investigation.

"We will be meeting with police to carefully consider whether any action needs to be taken."