A PUB was facing a furious backlash on Monday after putting up a sign which appeared to claim it had “naked waitresses" who flirt with drinkers.

On closer inspection, the sign outside the Southern Cross pub in Marton, Middlesbrough, reads: “The naked truth about our waitresses is they only flirt with you to get a better tip.”

On Monday, parent company Greene King said: “We apologise for displaying this inappropriate sign.

“It was written by a team member and meant to be light-hearted but on reflection we understand it was offensive.

“We took it down on Sunday and would like to say sorry to anyone who was offended.”

The sign caused a furore on Twitter, with people calling it “disrespectful” and “offensive”.

One Twitter user wrote: “The 1960s called… they want their sexist advertising back.”

Emma Chesworth, a Teesside female rights campaigner, said: “If you have to use that to sell your product then you must be desperate.

"It is demeaning to the staff and it is obviously only targeting their male customers.

"They are effectively saying they expect their female staff to flirt with customers. That isn’t in the job description.”