Plans to open a sex shop in Crawley High Street have angered residents and traders.

Darker Enterprises wants to open the shop in empty premises and has applied to Crawley Borough Council for a licence to sell goods including restricted 18 category films, sexually explicit magazines, marital aids and other articles.

Councillor Henry Smith, leader of West Sussex County Council and a member of Crawley Borough Council, thinks the sex shop would be a mistake.

In a letter of objection addressed to the council's licensing department, he said: "As a libertarian, I do not think the State or local authorities should prevent people's right to purchase legal adult material.

"People, however, also have an equal right not to have what to some may be seen as offensive or inappropriate merchandise, identifiable for sale in such a public place as Crawley High Street. My grounds of objection are based on location."

Mike Robinson, partner at Taylor Robinson Estate Agents, based a few doors away, said: "There's a residential development for affordable housing directly opposite and residential units in the block the shop is attached to. It is not the sort of place where a sex shop should be."

A 74-year-old resident of Malthouse Road, Crawley, who did not want to be named, said the shop would damage the town's image.

She said: "It's right near the train station and that's what people will see when they arrive. The High Street has really been coming on recently and I would hate this to spoil 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 to the council.

The council's licensing committee will meet on Monday to decide on the Crawley licence.

No one from Darker Enterprises was available for comment.