The owner of an adult shop in York wants to turn the business into a hardcore sex store.

The application has been made as City of York Council prosecutes Grimsby-based Nick Griffin for allegedly running the Gillygate store as an unlicensed sex shop.

And it comes only a week after he was convicted of selling blue videos which were tamer than customers expected.

The council defines a sex shop as one selling a "significant amount" of sexual items or videos classified as R18s - the most explicit rating.

But sex items can legally make up a small percentage of items sold in an adult shop.

Mr Griffin said today: "I will be able to sell sex articles exclusively, and stop selling things like blow up-sheep and smoking paraphernalia."

Strong objections have already been registered from the Salvation Army, which is based opposite the shop and has campaigned against Mr Griffin's business since it opened two years ago.

In 1999, councillors received a petition from the Salvation Army which had been signed by 190 opponents who wanted to see the shop closed down.

City of York Council is actively prosecuting Mr Griffin, claiming that the adult shop has been operating as a sex shop, but without a licence.

Richard Haswell, regulation unit manager at the council, said: "There is an outstanding summons in the magistrates court for running the premises as a sex shop. That has been adjourned pending the outcome of this application."

Mr Griffin said: "I am planning it to be a discreet blue, rather than the red and yellow it is now. The window would only show opening times, rather than the inflatable sheep that is there at the moment."

The application will be considered on February 1.

Updated: 15:00 Wednesday, January 24, 2001