A row has erupted over plans to extend the opening hours of a controversial York sex shop.

Furious Salvation Army workers have set up a petition to try to halt the planning application to open the Gillygate shop from 10am to 8pm on the Sabbath.

Peter Gales, from the Army, said: "We don't think they should be allowed to sell these filthy and disgusting things on a Sunday, or at any other time.

"We don't think a shop like this should be allowed to operate freely in a public shopping area, especially not so close to a place of worship. We are organising a petition to halt this."

Nick Griffin, licensee at the shop, told the Evening Press: "Business is booming and we want to extend the opening hours to Sunday due to popular demand.

"It is par for the course that the Salvation Army complain about whatever we do."

The application comes before the planning committee on July 26.

Updated: 15:57 Monday, June 25, 2001