Plans to grant a sex shop a licence have provoked fury among East Grinstead residents.

Almost 30 letters of objection, signed by 37 people, have been sent to Mid Sussex District Council protesting against proposals to allow the shop in Railway Approach, East Grinstead, to sell lingerie, glamour wear, sex aids, magazines and videos.

The shop, Pillow Talk, has been trading as an unlicensed sex shop since mid-August but plans to grant it a licence have come under fire because residents felt it would make the area seedy and attract "sex tourists".

Another objector asked the question: "Why do we need this garbage?" and described it as an "insult to us all".

There are also concerns underage people would be tempted to visit the shop and that it would encourage sexual perversion, violence and crime.

Councillor Allan Beal said: "A shop as proposed by this application in this location would be totally out of keeping, portray the wrong image of East Grinstead and be likely to attract an undesirable element within its potential clientele.

"East Grinstead does need major investment and a more diverse range of shopping facilities but not a licensed shop of this nature."

If the shop is granted a licence it will be allowed to sell adult material from 10am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 6pm on Saturday.

Owner Alan Butler, from Bletchingley, Surrey, has also applied for a licence to be able to operate on the two Sundays preceding Christmas.

Although there are a number of shops in Mid Sussex specialising in lingerie with prominent window displays, it would be the first time a full sex shop licence has been granted in the district.

A council licensing committee will decide whether to grant the licence at a meeting in the council chamber, Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath, on October 30, at 7pm.