A LINGERIE shop owner is looking for a woman to paint her premises because she fears a male decorator would be bad for business.

Sadie Ayton has fitted thousands of women in her 30 years in business. Now she needs someone to decorate her shop in Sea Road, Fulwell, Sunderland.

She said: "Our customers will not sit and be fitted up while men are on the premises, but our fitting rooms in Sunderland do really need a lick of paint.

"I do not want to sound sexist, but I do need a woman to do the job.

"Having men on the premises is simply bad for business. We know when we have had plumbers or other workmen in the shops that customers often turn and walk back out."

But the search for a female decorator has proved surprisingly frustrating.

Ms Ayton said: "I tried employment agencies and even the local government agency One NorthEast but nobody was able to help me to find a woman who works as a painter."

Ms Ayton, who began specialising in fitting bras from her shop in Front Street, Consett, County Durham, now has outlets in Ashington and Darlington as well as Sunderland. She is about to open another in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

Women decorators willing to help are asked to contact Ms Ayton at her Consett shop on (01207) 506541.