SEX toys and videos could be on sale on the Sundays before Christmas after a private shop requested permission to extend its opening hours.

Southern-based Darker Enterprises Ltd, which runs The Private Shop in Darwen Street, has applied to Blackburn with Darwen Council to extend its opening hours until 8pm in the evening in the two weeks running up to Christmas as well as on Sundays December 14 and 21.

But the move came under fire today by church leaders saying the trade of adult products days before Christmas was inappropriate.

Normally, the request is made later in the year but the firm, which pays £3,650 for its annual licence, has asked for permission early to tie in with an application for licence renewal.

Canon Andrew Hindley from Blackburn Cathedral said extended opening hours at the shop would jeopardise the religious festival still further.

He added: "A sex shop should not be open on the Lord's day as it is an especially holy day. It is destroying any remaining elements of the family sanctuary. There really is only so much shopping people can do.

"This move would just reiterate the materialism of Christmas. Retailers are just thinking about money and forgetting all religious celebrations surrounding Christ's birth."

Manager of the store Graham Strachan knew nothing about the application but said the Darwen Street store did a roaring trade before Christmas.

He added: "It is very hard to tell how popular the added opening hours will be but the Christmas period is one of our busiest times when the shop is full of guys.

"The novelty products are the most popular and I would say it was a good idea in general."

Mr Strachan said that managers based at the head office in Essex were behind the application. No-one there was available for comment.

It is one of two private shops operating in Darwen Street, but the only one to be licensed. The council is still trying to find a way of closing the other one, called the Pirate Shop, down.

Ray Goldstone of Blackburn Chamber of Trade said small shops up until now, had been largely uninterested in Sunday opening hours.

"Sunday trading is tending to grow but small shops have never really been into it because of the added costs and complications," he said.

"But if it will boost business and as long as it is just fun products then it has to be good. Traders in Darwen Street will now have their chance to come forward and voice any concerns they may have."

A decision will be taken by licensing councillors next Wednesday.