Plans to open a sex shop close to a primary school and Brownies centre has prompted a large scale protest from local people.

The application to open the shop on West Dyke Road, Redcar, has come from a Sheffield businessman.

Councillors on Redcar and Cleveland Council's Licensing Committee will next week see a 2,033 petition and 50 individual letters objecting to what would be the town's second sex shop.

Residents argue that the shop's customers could present a danger to children living in the area as well as pupils at The Lakes Primary School and Brownies and Rainbows who meet at a premises on the town centre road.

Others fear the shop would reduce house prices and would have a detrimental effect on neighbouring, family-run businesses.

Young mother Rachel Kelly, who lives on nearby Herschell Street, signed the petition. She said: "I've a young child and another on the way and I don't like the thought of a sex shop being here."

One man living on neighbouring Holder Street, who declined to be named, said: "I'm sure most of the men going to the shop will be fine, but there's always the thought that one or two will be odd. There's also the question of house prices to think about."

Maria Spence, also of Holder Street, said: "I signed the petition. There's no way we want a thing like that on our own streets."

Director of development at the council, Dr Joan Rees, also objected to the plan arguing the site was too close to children's centres also adding that it was too close to the new town centre development. However the police and the council's chief planning officer had no objections.

Last year controversy surrounded the opening of a specialist and fetish clothing shop which also sells sex aids in Station Road. The owner of The Dominion has since declared that business is booming.

Applicant Kevin Mitchell was unavailable for comment yesterday. Councillors will discuss the application, which would reoccupy a now derelict shop, at Eston Town Hall, on Wednesday, September 25 at 10am.