The sales of best-selling Chinese rope restraints and satin and lace blindfolds had the bosses of Ann Summers in Ireland smiling last year as the business returned to profit.

A bump in the sale of blindfolds, whips and handcuffs believed to have been inspired by erotic romance novel Fifty Shades of Grey was not enough to prevent the Irish business of lingerie and sex toy retailer, Ann Summers plunging into the red last year.

The runaway success of sex novel Fifty Shades of Grey has whipped up a huge uplift in profits at lingerie and sex toy retailer Ann Summers

Lingerie retailer Ann Summers last year felt the chill winds of the economic recession as its main Irish unit went into the red.