Job seeker finds sex line operator ad on government website

Stunned Rachel Thompson, 22, couldn't believe her eyes after a random search for call centre staff on the Jobcentre Plus website turned up a vacancy for the racy position.

Advertised as a chat-line telephone operator not suitable for under-18s, the job description involved "explicit sexual dialogue, which may cause embarrassment to some".

Jobcentre Plus staff said since a High Court ruling in 2003, the advertisement is not uncommon after sex and lingerie chain Ann Summers won the right to advertise for staff in Jobcentres across the country.

Miss Thompson, from South Shields, South Tyneside, said: "I thought it was a bit bizarre because it was on the actual Jobcentre Plus website, because I thought something like that would have been advertised on a site for sex lines.

"I must admit I did have a laugh and the money is probably pretty good, but it's not for me, not that there's anything wrong with it if that's what people want to do for a job."

The vacancy has now been withdrawn after Jobcentre Plus received enough applications from open-minded job seekers interested in the raunchy position.

A spokeswoman for Jobcentre Plus, said: "Following the Ann Summers' court case, Jobcentre Plus had to review its policy on jobs in the sex industry.

"As a result, providing these jobs are legal and comply with our normal vacancy rules, we now accept this type of vacancy."

She added: "We provide detailed information on these vacancies to make sure jobseekers know what they are applying for.

"Jobseekers will not be forced to apply for jobs in the sex industry. It will be up to individuals to decide if they want to apply for these types of jobs.

We will only provide the further details if they ask us for them."

Also being advertised for the Mystic Megs among us, is the permanent position of a Tarot Card reader.

An ideal candidate 'must have knowledge and experience of Tarot reading and a landline telephone number'.