Carwley has been branded a "magnet for sleaze" after a sex shop application was approved by reluctant civic leaders.

Private Shop could begin trading on Crawley High Street as early as next month after getting the seal of approval from Crawley borough councillors at a meeting of the council's licensing committee.

Darker Enterprises want to open the shop in empty premises and applied for permission to sell goods including restricted 18 category films, sexually-explicit magazines, marital aids and other articles.

Beryl Tredgett, 68, of Tilgate, who campaigned against the business, said: "We were extremely sad. I can't understand why the council can't stop these shops coming in. I'm worried Crawley is now a magnet for sleaze."

Councillor Henry Smith, leader of West Sussex County Council and a member of Crawley Borough Council, wrote to the committee saying it would be a mistake to grant the licence.

But Councillor Brian Quinn, Mayor of Crawley, said they had little choice.

He said: "The ten people on the committee thought that it was morally wrong but legally we didn't really have any choice.

"If we'd turned it down, they just would have gone to appeal and we would have lost, which would have cost money. It's not right because it's in the wrong place on High Street.

"The only good news is by granting a licence we can control it."

The same company provoked complaints last month when Brighton and Hove City Council allowed it to renew its licence for a sex shop in Surrey Street, Brighton. It had to pay a licence fee of £10,723.20.

No one from Darker Enterprises was available for comment.