LINGERIE shop owner Maria Mulhall has banned women for one hour each week...so they don't make fun of men buying sexy underwear for their wives and girlfriends.

Sales have soared as dozens of men have been streaming into Aphrodite Lingerie, Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, for the men-only nights on Thursdays.

Maria, who opened the shop in May, said: "I get quite a lot gentlemen coming in the shop and they are quite happy if there are no female customers in. But if there are women in the shop, the men just stand there red faced and the ladies can make rude comments.

"A lot of men do feel uncomfortable, which is why I decided to run these nights before Christmas.

"It also makes it easier for men to buy presents while their partners aren't around."

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