A YORK sex shop is appealing against a decision to refuse it a licence to open on Sundays.

Licensing chiefs at City of York Council threw out an application from The Adult Shop, in Gillygate, opposite the Salvation Army Citadel, to extend its opening hours to include Sunday.

Shop owner Nick Griffin confirmed the store was appealing against the decision by the licensing board, which was made on the grounds of "the character of the locality".

Mr Griffin said: "We applied for Sunday opening and were refused. We will be appealing to the magistrates' court and hope it will be decided quite soon."

Council chiefs at the licensing meeting heard that about 400 to 500 people used the Citadel for worship on Sundays. Mr Griffin had asked for a one-month trial and had been prepared to "tailor" opening times around the Salvation Army's busier periods.

A City of York Council spokesman said: "This application was refused by the planning committee and the licensing and regulations committee.

"The applicant is appealing against the latter's decision and the case will be heard at the magistrates' court on September 25."

Updated: 11:21 Thursday, September 18, 2003