LICENSING bosses discussing whether a sex shop can open on Sundays in the run up to Christmas admitted they had never had any complaints about it.

The three-man licensing sub-committee at Blackburn with Darwen Council met yesterday afternoon to discuss the application put forward by southern-based Darker Enterprises, which operates The Private Shop in Darwen Street, Blackburn.

The application, which also asked for permission to open later during the week to cash in on Christmas shoppers coming to Blackburn -- attracted criticism from Blackburn Cathedral.

But head of licensing Denise Johnson said there had been no written objections to the scheme.

She said: "We have never received any complaints about this establishment. It operates within the terms of its licence and we have never had any cause to tackle them.

"Normally they apply for permission to open on a Sunday or in the evenings in December much closer to Christmas but this year they have decided to ask for the change in hours at the same time as they reapply for their licence."

Coun Jim Blackburn, chairman of the sub-committee, said: "That seems to make sense. They have been allowed to open before on Sundays."

The committee then discussed the application in private and will make its decision known today, although Coun Blackburn conceded: "There appears to be little to discuss."

There are two private shops in Darwen Street, one of which is licensed. The other, known as the Pirate Shop, is opposite the licensed Private Shop, and has been the subject of constant council investigation to try to close it down.

Staff at the store claim they do not sell enough 'adult nature' goods to warrant paying for a licence, although council bosses are still trying to find a way of closing it.

In contrast, the licensed Private Shop, which councillors met to discuss yesterday, pays £3,650 to operate legally.

The shop, if granted permission, will be allowed to open until 8pm every night from December 10 to 23, and on Sunday December 14 and 21.

Chamber of Trade bosses say there is little point small shops opening late at Christmas because shoppers only tend to visit the bigger stores.