MOVES to open sex shops close to schools and churches are unlikely to be given the green light under a code drawn up by council bosses.

Opening a sex shop in an area which is "predominately residential" was also unlikely to succeed, according to the draft rules.

A "sex shop licensing policy" is to be put to all members of Wyre Forest District Council after councillors raised fears over the number of district sex shops.

At the heart of the policy is the power to restrict the number of shops in a certain area, although this will not mean whole towns.

Under present legislation, an application can only be rejected on the "character" of the area and the building itself.

The policy was called for in September after the application for a second sex shop in Kidderminster was approved by members of the council's licensing and environmental committee.

The new shop is due to open in Blackwell Street in Kidderminster. Under the policy, no more sex shops would be allowed in the street, committee members were told.

The policy would also mean applicants for new sex shops would be informed whether they stood a chance of approval by the council.

Speaking after the committee gave its backing to the policy, chairman, Pauline Hayward, said: "We don't want to give the impression we want sex shops all over Wyre Forest. It would not look very good if we turned an application down and they appealed and we did not have a policy.

"We can say enough is enough in one area if we have a policy."

Kidderminster's first sex shop, Taboo, had its licence renewed by the committee when it met on Monday last week.

Owner, Tony Tozer, said: "I do agree with putting a limit on the number of licences issued but they will have to decide on each application on its own merits."

The policy will need to be considered by council next month and given the final say by full council on December 8.