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Four Tayside Contracts employees have been suspended for taking part in a photo shoot with a topless model.

However, the magazine behind what they described as “a bit of fun” said in light of the controversy they would not be publishing the pictures.

The contracting arm of Angus, Dundee City and Perth and Kinross councils said it had acted swiftly after the photograph originally destined for Pg7 Magazine was anonymously brought to their attention.

“The individuals concerned are suspended at the moment as part of the investigatory process,” said Iain Waddell, managing director of Tayside Contracts.

He said that given the circumstances it would be inappropriate to comment further but confirmed that the four men worked for the organisation.

The person who alerted The Courier to the picture said he was “flabbergasted” by the men’s involvement with an “x-rated magazine”, which he said was unsuitable behaviour given the number of female employees at Tayside Contracts.Post by TheCourier.co.uk.The men involved are understood to be road maintenance workers though their identities or where or when the picture was taken is unknown.

Colleagues at the Perth Ruthvenfield depot of Tayside Contracts were unable, or unwilling, to shed any light on the identities of the men involved.

When contacted, Pg7 Magazine said the pictures would not now be used.

“All the pictures have been deleted, they don’t exist,” said a spokesman for the magazine.

“It was a bit of fun, it took two minutes of their day in their lunch half hour.

“As far as the pictures are concerned I am really sorry they got into this ridiculous trouble.”

The spokesman said the picture which has the magazine logo and phone number across the model’s chest was never even used online and said he was at a loss to know how the photograph had got into circulation.Update:Tayside Contracts reinstates the workers