Birthday group asked to leave pub after Jackson look upsets drinkers

WHITE pub customers who "blacked up" as the Jackson Five for a night out were ordered to leave a bar after apparently offending black drinkers.

Chris Turner, Gail Costello, Lesley Leighton, Belinda Treeloar and Tracey Ford honoured the Motown legends by putting on face paint and dressing up as the group to celebrate Ms Costello's birthday in Scarborough.

But the evening went sour at the Lord Rosebery superpub as managers claimed yesterday that the look had led to complaints from black customers.

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But Ms Leighton said: "No one complained. One of us managed to get served. Then one of the lady doormen said 'You look absolutely amazing but the manager says you have to leave'.

"We thought it was outrageous. There was about 15 of us all dressed as different artists for her sister's birthday. We idolise the Jackson Five."

She has vowed never to return to the pub, although the experience has not put her off dressing up as the Jacksons. "

A JD Wetherspoon spokesman said: "A group of black customers took offence. The manager felt that to prevent any potential problems, the right thing to do was to ask them to leave."

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