A growing number of women are taking pole dancing lessons from professional strippers in a bid to spice up their suburban sex lives and perhaps enact a few fantasies along the way. Pole dancing has made the leap to respectability with clubs opening specifically to teach women "the only exercise you can legitimately do in high heels". The movement has been led by celebrities such as Baywatch babette Carmen Electra who has become the new Jane Fonda with her series of pole-dancing instructional DVDs.

Engineering workshops and plumbers have realised there is big money to be made selling removable poles -- such as the Lil'Mynx model -- on the internet.

Specialized classes range from "pole aerobics" to more sundry topics. Hen parties and bachelorette parties are also finding it to be an exciting option. After all, what new hubby wouldn't want to see his bride draped from a new pole installed in the bedroom?