It was a busy time for pole dancers in Amsterdam at the weekend.

While the red light district's troupe were gyrating as usual, a host of girls from Albania to Spain flew in to compete for the European pole dance championship title.

Wearing sportswear reminiscent of Olympic gymnasts rather than skimpy leotards, girls performed gravity-defying dance routines based around two 6-metre poles -- one rotating, one fixed. (Read more)