NEIGHBOURS are heaving a huge sigh of relief after a sex shop, which was aiming to open in North Road, just yards from Lowe House Church, has pulled out.

Nice n Naughty had applied to open the premises just a few doors down from the landmark place of worship, potentially causing deep offence to the area's local Roman Catholic community, while others were fearful of the type of sordid customer the shop could attract.

Kevin Heneghan, a resident from North Road, said he was worried about the dangers of perverts frequenting the area. He said: "At a time when attacks on women and girls are commonplace, a time when anxious parents take younger children to and from school for fear of paedophiles, is it wise to be catering for the kinky?"

The 76-year-old retired lecturer says he is "very, very pleased" that Nice n Naughty has withdrawn the application. Mr Heneghan, who has 15 grandchildren, said: "I think it would have been an appalling thing to have in the town at all, never mind so near to the church."

Margaret Austin, from Windle, who has seven young grandchildren in St Helens, wrote to the council voicing her objections to the proposed sex shop. She said given the high number of sexual offences, it would be "a slap in the face for the female population of this town."

Father Kevin McLaughlin, parish priest at Lowe House, said it was heartening to see the community pulling together: "We should not want to deny anyone the freedom to do whatever they want, but we should not advocate a society that allows things to go ahead that upset the majority of people."

He added: "We must be strong enough and vocal enough to object to what we do not want."