A sex shop in Richmond will continue trading after its licence was renewed by Richmond Council, despite repeated objections.

Private Shop, in Kew Road, has been open for more than 10 years and will continue to operate six days a week, despite objectors citing its close proximity to Falcons Prep School and Richmond Hospital as "strong grounds" to revoke the licence.

Neither establishment has opposed the renewal of the shop's licence.

In a letter to the council, an objector from Twickenham Christian Concern said: "The absence of an objection from these parties in no way detracts from the unsuitability of the sex shop.

"The parade of shops encouraging the presence of families and children and the nearby residential area also contribute to the inappropriateness of a sex shop."

The council has a policy of no sex establishments in the borough, which is discretionary for new applications rather than grounds to refuse to renew a licence.

The shop, which has a plain brown front and blinds pulled down, has always complied with the terms of its licence, but groups have protested the application every year.

Private shop worker Brian Yeo said he believed there was still a place for the sex shop in the borough.

He said: "No one has said nothing to me so I take it that everything is fine - nothing has changed. I have never had any trouble and nobody seems to have a problem with the shop being here."

North Richmond Councillor Stephen Speak said he would prefer the shop not to be there but admitted the council was legally-bound to renew its licence.

He added: "It is a legally run business and although I would prefer it not to it was not in this location, we are unable to amend terms and change things.

"One point they did make to us when I attended the hearing a few years ago was if we were to take away restrictions on the licence, we could end up in a worse position.

"It is better to keep it as it is."

The licence renewal was ratified by the council's licensing sub-committee on Monday, March 16.