The first sex shop in Hove has been given official approval from city councillors.

There were 56 objections to Ignition, which has been running at the western end of Blatchington Road since last November.

The official policy of Brighton and Hove City Council until now has been not to have a sex shop in the area.

Until recently there was only one sex shop in the city, at Surrey Street near Brighton railway station. But a second one has been allowed there and last year, another sex shop was permitted in St James's Street in Kemp Town.

The licensing committee agreed to the Blatchington Road application yesterday.

Tory councillor Lynda Hyde objected to the application, saying: "I do not want to see a proliferation of these shops."

She was also worried it was near St Andrew's Church of England primary school.

Objectors also feared the shop would attract undesirable clientele and would legitimise pornography, which many people found offensive.

There were no objections from Sussex Police, but they asked for conditions that were agreed, including one that a CCTV camera should produce better images.

Applicant Paul Trim, 41, said the shop mainly sold lingerie but the application had been put in so it could also sell adult videos.

Mr Trim said there was a demand for a sex shop in this part of Hove but he had been careful not to display anything in the window that could affect young children.