A METHODIST minister has criticised plans to open a sex shop close to his church.

The Rev Alan Coates, of Bondgate Methodist Church, Darlington, has opposed plans by a Leeds-based company to open a sex shop in Bondgate.

Principal Enterprise Ltd, which owns several adult shops in the UK, wants to open one of its Adult X stores on the corner of Bondgate and Four Riggs.

There are already three licensed sex shops in Darlington - on Victoria Road, North Road and Grange Road.

Mr Coates said: "Bondgate is a nice area. As a church we would oppose it totally. It would be in the centre of the town, where young families and children would see it when they walk past it. I don't think this is an ideal place for a sex shop."

Darlington Borough Council council confirmed that it had received two objections from businesses situated close to the property.

The owners of Jackson's newsagents, which is next door to the proposed site, have sent a letter of objection.

Mrs Jackson said: "There is only a small minority of people who want that sort of shop.

"Customers have told me there are already two or three in the town centre so they are already very well catered for.

"Blacketts is going to be turned into a health centre, where there is going to be a rape crisis centre. We think it is in bad taste to have a rape centre near a sex shop."

Netherlaw surgery in Stanhope Road has recently bought Blacketts pub to convert it into a GP surgery. Discussions are under way to provide a unit there to treat victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse and rape.

Dr Andrew Michie, a GP at the practice for 15 years, said: "In principal I have no objection to people plying a legal trade wherever they wanted.

"Sex shops can fulfill a social need as long as the necessary legal regulations are carried out. I would not personally object without having discussed the matter with other partners."

An application for the sex shop licence will be heard at a meeting of the council's licensing committee on May 15.

Despite calls by The Advertiser to Principal Enterprise Ltd, there was no response.