Irish town swamped with sex calls in Babestation mix-up

Residents of a tiny Irish town have been bombarded with phone calls from randy strangers trying to call X-rated television channel Babestation.

Westport, County Mayo, population 5,500, is best known for its coastal scenery and proximity to Croagh Patrick mountain, a popular destination for Catholic pilgrims. But the town is now making headlines for a very different reason.

Residents have been hit by a deluge of late-night calls from people trying to contact a sex chatline advertised on Babestation.

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According to local MP Michael Ring, the mix-up has been caused because the premium rate numbers are similar to the area's landlines. Babestation operates from the UK, but callers in Ireland are neglecting to use the international dialling code and simply calling the number displayed on screen, which takes them to Westport.

Ring told the Irish Independent: "What happens is when the guys have a few drinks on them they don't see the UK codes and then the next thing they are ringing innocent families in Westport."

Although the mix-up might provoke sniggers, Ring was keen to stress that his constituents are "aggravated and annoyed" by the disturbance.

"They are getting these calls in the middle of night. One of those people has an elderly mother and family members all over the world and there could be a call at any time that they would have to take," he said.Babestation plans to send two of its models to Westport to apologise in person for the "innocent misunderstanding", reports Irish news website The Journal.

Ring was less than impressed by the offer. "All we want them to do is change the phone numbers so residents are not annoyed by these calls. We don't want them down here," he said.