Pole the other one!

GOOD-HUMOURED staff at a Sidmouth gift shop used the fact it was undergoing a makeover to play a saucy April Fools’ prank –saying it would reopen as a pole dancing club.

Scores of passers-by near Pure Indulgence in Fore Street were this week intrigued and gobsmacked to see a poster in its papered-over windows asking for dancers to apply.

The tongue-in-cheek notice said experience was not necessary, written applications needed to have a photograph - and even suggested hopefuls could use a nearby lamppost as practice.

In reality, the store has undergone a revamp which was unveiled yesterday (Saturday, April 5).

Owner Steven Kendall-Torry said the emphasis will very much be on selling unique, unusual items and English-made furniture. There will not be a pole dancer in sight.

Steven decided to play along with the prank after it was thought up by employee Sue Readman.

“It’s gone down very well,” he said. “We even had a letter through the door from someone applying for a position. It’s been received in good humour as intended.

“A lot of people stopped and looked at it. We could hear them chuckling outside. I don’t think anyone fell for it.”