A temporary sex shop licence has been granted for an exhibition at one of Brighton's most famous hotels.

The permit, granted by Brighton and Hove City Council, will allow an adult lifestyle show to be held in the Hilton Brighton Metropole exhibition halls.

The People Like Us Show applied for the licence for a show running from May 3, 2003, which would feature products normally found in sex shops.

No objections were received by the city council.

Stewart Crofts, director of organiser Norcro Plus, said the exhibition would cover a variety of themes.

These include art, fashion, community associations and charities, communications, financial services, health, fitness and leisure.

Mr Crofts said he was pleased the licence had been awarded.

He said: "It will bring a lot of people into Brighton from London and the surrounding area."

He stressed there would be a strict policy of refusing entry to people under 18.

In July, we revealed the People Like Us Show - which has been in the pipeline for more than two years - had been cancelled.

It was originally promoted as a specifically gay and lesbian lifestyle show and was planned to take place in September. However, the show will now cover a broader range of exhibits.

Metropole conference manager Andy Nisbet said: "This was a speculative application made by the event's promoters but we're not holding any space for them at the moment.

"If they were to apply for a booking it's certainly something we would look into but at the moment we're waiting to see what happens."