The owner of a nightclub where an illicit video was filmed showing dancing women exposing themselves has told how he was nearly sick when he saw the footage.

The controversial film was shot during an "outside event" that had not been organised by Club Malabar, the venue's owner Lord Anthony Butterfield told He said club staff supervised the event, but he said he had no idea shocking scenes were being filmed as he walked the club floor.

The 90-minute film includes close-up shots of a woman in crotchless tights pleasuring herself, while another women is seen dropping her jeans to her ankles and pulling her underwear to one side.

Another woman gyrates towards the floor as the camera zooms in under her skirt.

Most of the film shows women and men dancing and the shocking scenes, involving about four women, last no more than five minutes.

Copies like the one seen by are believed to be changing hands in certain sections of the community for up to $60, but Mr. Butterfield stressed they are not being sold by the Dockyard club.

Mr. Butterfield, giving his side of the nightclub film controversy for the first time, today revealed the offenders who exposed themselves had now been banned from his club for life.

And he said video parties, popular in venues across the Island, will no longer be held at Club Malabar.

The owner also said he had one been offered as much as $10,000 to host an illegal strip show at Club Malabar ? but he turned the cash down.

"I'm not going to do that for any amount of money," he added.

Mr. Butterfield said that on the night the video was filmed himself and his security team patrolled the floor and the entrance ensuring customers were safe, and all he saw were people dancing. "When I walked through the club the video is going and the filming I saw was people dancing. The video was 90 per cent dancing.

"If I had seen what was happening I would have thrown them out. If I had known what was being filmed I would have made sure the DVD was destroyed." Speaking of his shock when he saw the footage from February 3 for the first time last week, he added: "I virtually threw up when I saw it. It made me sick to my stomach. I could not believe that someone would film that and I'm not going to tolerate it in my club."

Mr. Butterfield believes the reason why the women exposed themselves on film was because a $300 best dressed lady prize and a trip to a US party had been offered by the event promoters who rented the venue, not by Club Malabar. "People will do anything for $300," he added. "They were exhibitionists."

He said Club Malabar attracted people "from every walk of life" and was popular with tourists. Some Bermudians travel from St. George's for a night out there, he added, and it was regularly hired for a variety of events including weddings and surprise parties.

He also said his door staff ran strict security checks, barred drunks and ran a strict policy on underage admissions. "Sometimes when people have been drunk, I've taken their car or bike keys from them."

The video shows men rolling and smoking cigarettes, and Mr. Butterfield said he was looking forward to April when smoking will be banned in enclosed public places, including nightclubs.

He said that policing the club was difficult because it was often difficult to tell the difference between tobacco and cannabis in a club atmosphere, especially as many brands of tobacco are now scented. "Yes, people make their own cigarettes and I've thrown people out thinking it's weed and I have made a fool of myself," he said. "But I'm just trying to do my best job policing the club.

"When the ban comes in I'm going to be the happiest club owner in Bermuda. The ban will make my job a lot easier."