Passers-by were left rubbing their eyes in disbelief yesterday as a town's lawn bowls team faced off against the Lady Boys of Bangkok.

The greenkeeper at Peacehaven Bowls Club had a nervous 45 minutes as the Lady Boys played their finest bowls in turf-piercing stilettos.

Peacehaven Town Council mayor elect, councillor Robbie Robertson, invited the troupe to learn about the traditional English pastime.

Both sides took it in turns to send down the jack dressed in their traditional uniforms - the bowls club in all white with the Lady Boys in high heels and skimpy evening wear.

Councillor Robertson said the event was arranged to provide some local hospitality to the performers from the travelling show.

The Lady Boys' new Fringe show Red Hot Kisses will be at the Sabai Pavilion in Victoria Gardens, Brighton, until May 31.

Meanwhile, a 12 metre sign was stolen from the Lady Boy's of Bankok's Sabai Pavilion in Victoria Gardens.

Despite the cast and crew staying on site no one heard the sign being removed on Tuesday night.

The sign - which cost £600 and is made up of six sections- disappeared between midnight on Tuesday and Wednesday morning.

Box office manager Sandra Jolly said: “We think it must have been a prank but it was quite expensive and we'd really like it back.”

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the banner should call Sussex Police on 101.