Christians have taken to social media to praise a decision not to allow a pole dancer to perform at a church Christmas event.

Sophie Badger, had hoped to perform what she describes as a family friendly pole dance at St John’s Church in Glastonbury as part of the town’s annual Frost Fayre. However she claims she was refused permission and told that the local vicar, who has since left the church, had objected to her performance at the event last year.

Ms Badger defended her performance and told the BBC that “it’s more akin to ballet, gymnastics or aerial.

"People are into aerial silks, it's very similar, quite acrobatic and really elegant.

"If you are going to sexualise it - which is what people are doing - it seems unfair and a little worrying.

"Women should be allowed to show some skin without people sexualising them."

However many people have praised the decision not to go ahead with the performance at St John’s Church, writing on social media site X: “Some things don't belong in church.”

Another wrote : “Has no one told her that the purpose of the church is to worship God? Has no one told her that He became man? Has no one told her that through His holy cross He has redeemed the world?”

Another, describing themselves as an atheist said: “I completely agree with this being kept out of a church. There's a time and a place, for goodness’ sake.”

Glastonbury Town Council has apologised and said that several factors had reduced the amount of performance space available across the event and that St John’s Church had made the decision to not have a stage for performances.