'British pole dancers' arrested after dancing in front of historic Greek palace

Five British women have been arrested after they were filmed pole dancing at a centuries-old palace in Corfu,Greece.

Video posted to Facebook on May 23 shows two women posing on a pole under the arches of the Palace of St. Michael and St. George.

The palace,now the Corfu Museum of Asian Art,was designed by British architects in the 19th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The women allegedly climbed the pole just outside the Municipal Gallery of Corfu to have their photos taken by a photographer at 1.30am.

A group of other women could be seen in the clip waiting in line as they cheered the dancers on.

The women were in Corfu for a two-week study abroad programme with their pole dancing school,Greek channel ANT1 TV reported.

The women have expressed remorse after staging a shoot at the Palace of St. Michael and St. George (Picture: Facebook)

The photoshoot was for the dancers’ portfolios.

The five were arrested on Saturday,accused of violating archaeological law and degrading the area,after museum officials filed a lawsuit.

The women told police their choice to take the photographs was ‘unfortunate’ and have spent years travelling Corfu.

Deputy mayor for culture,Konstantinos Vousolinos,told Corfu TV News that a permit is required to take professional photographs on the palace grounds.

He added: ‘No request has been submitted and we would not grant a permit.’

The five pole dancers appeared in court today and remain in custody,legal news outlet dikastiko.gr reported.

Other people could be seen by a pile of clothing waiting to get their photo taken (Picture: Facebook)

Gerasimos Grammenos,lawyer for the defendants,said no permission for photos at the palace is required.

The women were part of a group of 30,Grammenos claimed,and it involved a professional photographer.

He said: ‘The space is public,there is no prohibition or sign anywhere prohibiting photography.

‘In any case,however,the defendants… could not have had knowledge.

‘They trusted a professional photographer,a resident of Corfu,who assured them that there would be no problem.’