A SEX shop in the centre of Northampton will be allowed to display products in its front window, despite concerns the move could offend both children and the religious.

As with all sex shops across Northampton, Simply Pleasure in Wellingborough Road currently has a blanked-out front window.

But the Dorset-based firm applied to Northampton Borough Council for permission to show off lingerie and “club wear” in its window and, despite concerns, the authority’s licensing committee this week approved the plans.

During a long debate, the committee was split down the middle on whether the scheme should be approved.

Councillor Winston Strachan (Lab, St Crispin) warned that many children already passed the shop on their way to school. He said: “In my opinion, the name Simply Pleasure speaks for itself. Why do they need a shop window display to go with it?”

He was backed by Councillor Iftikhar Choudary (Lab, Abington), who added: “Mothers and children regularly pass this area as do Muslim ladies who could find this display offensive.”

But other committee members argued lingerie displays could be seen in many other shops in town.

Councillor Roger Conroy (Lib Dem, Kings Heath) said: “We’ve got Ann Summers in Abington Street and Marks & Spencer regularly have lingerie in their window, so I don’t really have a concern.”

Councillor Jonathan Nunn (Con, Nene Valley) added: “You can walk down Abington Street and see lingerie shops and I think when you see these sex shops at the moment, their blanked out windows can look a bit sinister.”

Following the debate, the licensing committee was split down the middle with five votes in favour of allowing the window display and five against. In the end the committee’s chairman had to use his casting vote to approve the plans.