An aristocratic masked ball at a 17th century manor house turned into an orgy at midnight.

The 350 well-heeled guests, who arrived wearing long cloaks and masks, stripped down to leather pants, corsets and suspenders at the stroke of 12 o’clock.

The stunned owner of Halswell House called police when he saw couples having sex ‘everywhere’ but was told they were powerless because it was a private party for consenting adults.

‘The guests were all public-school types and I jokingly said to one: “I suppose you are a High Court judge”. He replied: “You’re not far off the mark”,’ said 45-year-old Grahame Bond.

‘The party started normally and it all seemed pretty harmless. The whole group were dressed in these great costumes and it looked exactly like something out of Eyes Wide Shut. But then one of the organisers announced, “The moment has come. The spell has begun” and everyone began kissing and having sex. To say I was shocked was an understatement.’

Mr Bond, who normally hosts exclusive weddings, sent home two 19-year-old waitresses – but still kept the bar open till 3am.

The party at the mansion in Goathurst, Somerset, had been organised by a Dutch events company which specialises in raunchy ‘adults-only’ events, it later emerged.

‘One thing led to another,’ admitted Mike Voorvaart, owner of the ‘LittleSins’ event company. ‘We were a bit surprised because we thought the British were prudish.’

Source: metro.co.uk