Harry Potter game accidentally sends young players to strip club

A Harry Potter mobile game has been found to direct young players to a strip club in East London.

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite uses similar augmented reality features to games like Pokemon Go and is made by the same developer, with players being tasked with visiting real-life locations known as 'greenhouses'.

However, one of these 'greenhouses' turned out to be Ye Olde Axe in Hoxton, a pole dancing venue where patrons put a pound in a pint glass in order to see nude dancing.

Barmaid Irina told The Sun: “Oh is the Harry Potter game out? I’ve been waiting for it to come out for ages.

“How funny that we are on there. Harry Potter fans are welcome like anyone else, as long as they put £1 in the glass and are over 18.”

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The games' designer Niantic has now issued an apology, and has said that it has removed the venue from the game.

“We want everybody to have a fantastic time exploring while playing safely,” it went on.

Unfortunately, it's not the first time that the game has hit headlines.

It was widely criticised by users when it launched last month, over its in-game costs, some calling it 'a disgusting cash grab' and 'much more aggressively monetized' than Pokemon Go.

The NSPCC also weighed in, saying that children could 'accidentally end up in dangerous locations' or 'be exposed to inappropriate content'.

In response, Niantic said: “One of our core missions is to encourage safe outdoor play and exercise. Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is available to players of all ages.

“Children need to get parental consent through the Niantic Kids Parent Portal before playing the game. We encourage all people to be aware of their surroundings and to play alongside friends or family, especially when you're exploring unfamiliar places.”