Spearmint Rhino strippers halt traffic during protest march to save Sheffield club from closure

Strip club dancers have braved the pouring rain to march through Sheffield city centre to oppose moves to close a branch of Spearmint Rhino.

The protesters halted traffic as they weaved from the Brown Street club to the Town Hall.

A row has developed over whether to renew Spearmint Rhino's licence for the premises after reports that private investigators had filmed sex acts taking place in the club.

The dancers and their supporters - including Sheffield Hallam University's women's officer, Gabby Willis - told marchers any filming of this type should be classed as "revenge porn".

Ms Willis said: "I think it's really important that we stand by women's choice to do that in a safe environment for their job, if they want to."

Asked about the reported secretly filmed videos, Ms Willis said: "We don't have any proof they even exist. If they do they are illegal. They constitute revenge porn.

"If something like that is happening, I strongly doubt it.

"I talk to so many girls from the club - I count them as friends. They're all professional, amazing women and, even if they weren't, that doesn't mean they should have their rights stripped away to be able to do what they want in peace."

She said she had been in the club and "felt completely safe".

Club worker Rachael McCoy, 37, told the protesters: "I'm a single mother. This job helps me feed my children. This job has actually changed my life for the better."