NO sex please, it's Christmas! A bid to bring extra saucy festive fun to Bury residents has been foiled.

Councillors have refused to allow the town's sex shop in Rochdale Road to open longer hours at Yuletide.

Owners of the Private Shop wanted to stay open for business for an extra two hours, until 8pm, from Monday to Saturday in the fortnight before Christmas.

And they also asked to be allowed to trade on the two Sundays preceding Christmas Day.

But members of Bury's licensing committee voted unanimously on Tuesday to refuse the application, at least for the time being.

They want the owners to come to the next meeting and explain their reasons for the variation.

Coun Trevor Holt, licensing chairman, said the committee was not against sex shops as such nor were members suggesting that the place was not being run well.

"We have not had any complaints about the shop," he admitted, "but there may be concern among people if they knew about this variation.

"We just want to be absolutely confident that this is necessary and we are happy with it. It's only right we speak to them and ask them why."

The chairman added: "We will tell the owners that we are minded to refuse the application, and give them the chance to put their case to us in person."

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