ANGRY councillors have hit out over sex toys being sold in some of Weymouth's seafront shops in full view of children.

Members of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's environment and conservation committee voted to lobby Government and issue a public statement condemning the sale of adult items in un-licensed stores such as newsagents.

Under current laws, traders do not need a sex establishment licence if these goods account for a low percentage of their stock.

The comments came during a discussion about adopting stricter guidelines to control the number of sex shops in Weymouth and Portland.

Coun Jennifer Stewkesbury said: "I'm absolutely shocked these items are openly on sale in Weymouth. It's quite illogical to have these rules and regulations and then go into a seafront shop and buy these sorts of things.

"I don't think this is the kind of thing a family resort should have, even if there is only a small amount for sale.

"Children have that available to them. I want the environment department to do something about this."

Environmental health and property manager Tony Beeson told the meeting that traders selling a small amount of these goods operate within the law.

Councillors agreed that guidelines should be laid down to stop sex shops being opened next to schools, children's attractions or residential areas.

Coun Joy Stanley said she did not want any sex stores at all in Weymouth.

"I don't want any of these shops in the borough. I know we already have two, which we are very annoyed about in Melcombe Regis. This is a very emotive issue at the moment."

Coun Robbie Dunster said the council would 'shoot itself in the foot' if it limited the number of sex shops in the borough because children are not allowed inside them and they have blackened out windows so passers-by cannot view stock.

He added that stamping out sex shops entirely would lead to more adult items for sale in unlicensed premises.

Councillors rejected a proposal to delegate their power of setting the licence fee for sex establishments to the environmental health and property manager, saying they wanted to keep control of costs.