Belfast sex shop owners threaten legal action

The owners of six sex shops in Belfast city centre are threatening legal action after the city council refused to grant them licences.

The council's environmental and health committee wants the shops to close down and say they will be fined up to £20,000 (€30,200) each if they continue trading.

The shops have been operating illegally in a run-down part of the city centre, some for as long as 20 years.

After a series of public objections, the council committee voted to close them down although its recommendation has yet to go to a full meeting of the city council.

One sex shop owner said they had paid £3,000 (€4,500) each to apply for a licence and met all building standards.

One problem is that four of the shops are in a street which has traditionally catered for the school uniform and communion dress market and some parents say they don't want to bring their children past the sex shop fronts.