THE Isle of Wight is ready for its only sex shop, councillors have decided.

They have given the go-ahead for Essex-based Darker Enterprises to open up an outlet in Pyle Street at the site of a former women's clothes shop.

Canon Stephen Palmer, vicar of Newport and chairman of Newport Forum, led about a dozen objections at the Island council's licen-sing panel.

He said: "We regard this as a wholly inappropriate location for such a retail outlet. It has proximity to several places of worship and to family retail outlets, it is close to a large middle school and

many of the Nodehill children walk down Pyle Street to get to school."

But councillors approved the application after hearing that moral issues should not be considered.

Conditions imposed include the words Private Shop outside, to be painted brown and cream.

The shop is not allowed to open on Sundays, Christmas Day or Good Friday, and must operate between 9.30am and 8pm only, Monday to Saturday.