COLCHESTER Council has been forced to review what events it allows in Castle Park after residents complained of an after hours "striptease" show.

The show, which council bosses and its organisers have insisted was burlesque, was held in upper Castle Park.

But on-lookers said the show included three women performing topless inside a tent venue.

Pamela Allen, who lives in Ryegate Road, complained to Colchester Council in the days after the event, during the Colchester Free Festival in August last year, but it has taken nearly a year to get a reply.

Mrs Allen said: "I was quite shocked and horrified.

"I was at the festival and it was a £5 ticket event and I thought it was going to be just another event in the evening.

"They played the music and had three girls who came on and performed and it can only be called a striptease.

"They removed their tops, they were very scantily clad."

She added: "This was happening within 30 metres of Ryegate Road, where there are children living.

"There was no-one I could complain to at the time.

"This is public land, financed by the people of Colchester.

"It was out of order and it should not be happening."

Andy Winmill, a co-organiser of the festival, which will not take place this year, said the event took place with the permission of landowners Colchester Council and it was "an after hours party" only suitable for over-18s.

Colchester Council's policy on Castle Park events states permission should not be give for "any event that would cast doubt on the integrity of the Council or that the Council believes may be of questionable public morality".

A council spokesman said: "This event was an over-18’s ticketed charity event staged in a part of the park not visible to other users.

"This was a burlesque act and not a stripper - however we have since reviewed our policy and would not choose to approve this type of act in the future."