While some anal toys can cause shock at times, rarely to they generate public evacuations.

In the US recently, the California Highway Patrol ushered people out of its South Lake Tahoe area office after mistaking one of the men’s sex toys for a bomb.

An officer with the force had contacted Steven Ferrini, who was in a no parking zone on a highway.

The 60-year-old was arrested after the policeman found what he believed was methamphetamine and during a subsequent search the unfortunate individual caused a panic.

An official report said officers became concerned when they found what they believed was an explosive device with an ‘on/off’ switch in his front pocket with a “suspicious wire” leading to his anal cavity.

At first, the plan was to take the thrill-seeker to hospital to have the device removed, but then officers became alarmed by comments made by Mr Ferrini.

The office was evacuated at around 05:45 local time and an explosive ordinance disposal team investigated, finding that the object in question was an anal toy, rather than a bomb.

No doubt the incident left some of those involved a little red faced.

The report noted: “The vibrator was subsequently removed and placed into property.”

While most people may prefer less highly-charged circumstances than Mr Ferrini, they may still get considerable pleasure from men’s sex toys.

Writing in the Stir last month, sex expert Sharon Moalem noted that anal-rectal stimulation can be intense as the area is full of sensitive nerve endings “not to mention the prostate gland”.

She added: “You’ve heard of women’s G-spots; this is a man’s P-spot.”

Ms Moalem went on to point that that as well as gay men, some straight men find anal stimulation pleasurable. Her comments came in response to a reader who noted that her boyfriend loves to be penetrated with a strap on.