Pornographic videos could briefly be seen on a large interactive screen meant to guide tourists around Buġibba.

It was the result of a prank by a group of mischievous youths, believed to be locals, who circumvented the equipment’s web browser security system and accessed a porn search engine.

Residents who witnessed what happened last week said the group of people, in their late teens, could be seen huddled around the device for some time.

They were then seen casually walking away as erotic videos appeared on the 40-inch screen set up on the busy promenade.

The incident was later reported to the local council by nearby souvenir shop owners, who had taken it upon themselves to cover the screen with a large Justin Bieber beach towel.

The cover was not big enough prompting youths to take to Twitter to post photos of the unlikely brand association with the hashtag #bugibbabieberfever. Local council officials told Times of Malta the internet access feeding the system had now been limited on all five screens spread across the area.

“These were meant to inform people of the history of the locality. It amazes me what people will do,” one councillor said.