A Birmingham lap dancing club which has been operating without planning permission is set to get official seal of approval to continue.

Leisure Nights in Broad Street, formerly known as China Red, has been offering adult entertainment for about six years.

Although the building has an entertainment licence allowing lap dancing to take place, owners failed to apply for planning permission to operate a nightclub.

Because no-one at the city council spotted the mistake and there have been no complaints from members of the public or the police about the use of the building it is impossible now to do anything other than give formal approval, according to city planning chiefs.

Leisure Nights are expected to win the right to continue using the building as a nightclub for adult entertainment at the next meeting of the city council planning committee.

The likely decision has annoyed the Broad Street Business Improvement District, which is campaigning to make the area more family friendly and to rid Broad Street of its rowdy and alcohol-laden image.

Planning officer Vicki Neale pointed out that nightclub use fitted in with Broad Street’s reputation as the city’s entertainment zone and it also ditted with the council’s policy to encourage leisure outlets in the area.