Ananova:

A Russian priest was left cursing after he was tricked into giving a sacred blessing to a strip bar.

Father Nickolai blessed the Studio 74 strip club in the city of Chelyabinsk after he was told it was a ballet school.

The Orthodox priest claims he had no idea it was a strip club and that he had been tricked by the owners - who told him it was a hall for training ballet dancers.

Studio 74 spokeswoman Anna Usmanova said: "Ever since we had this sacred act performed on our premises customers say they have experienced an entirely new atmosphere here and more people are coming in. The blessing seems to be working."