POLICE have revealed that they are closely monitoring a martial arts shop in Darlington after receiving calls from anxious residents.

The borough council's licensing committee heard yesterday that worries had been raised about the weapons on sale at Open Supplements, in North Road.

Concerns were voiced at last month's meeting by Councillor Bryan Thistlethwaite, who said he had seen two men pulling a samurai sword out of its sheath at the shop.

And when councillors asked for an update on the situation, Acting Sergeant Sham Sahani, of Darlington police, told them that officers would be continuing to check the premises.

She said: "They don't need a licence to sell any kind of weapons in the shop.

"We have had various calls from members of the public about the various items in the window, but there isn't anything illegal that they're selling.

"I will be very open about the fact that we will monitor it because we have had calls from members of the public.

"The public are concerned and rightly so, because where the shop is positioned, it does invite youths standing around the area and it is a problem area as far as anti-social behaviour is concerned.

"We don't want someone running in and taking a sword off the display because then we have a situation in Darlington."

However, she added that the shop's owners had co-operated fully with police checks and would be happy to answer queries from the local authority.

Councillor John Vasey called for blinds or curtains to be put in place, to ensure people could not see into the shop.

"It maybe beneficial to the residents of Darlington if we don't have the ability to see clearly into the shop," he said.

Police are expected to approach the shop's owners with the idea and Acting Sgt Sahani said she expected them to have no problems with it.

The shop said it does not sell firearms and only sells knives and swords, which are kept behind glass cases, to over-18s.