A sex shop owner's designs for a window display in his York store have been given the nod by city planners.

Nick Griffin's plans for the Gillygate Adult Shop won the support of members of City of York Council's planning committee, which had to approve the design of the front facade of the shop as a condition of Mr Griffin's licence.

When granting a licence for the sex shop last month, councillors were unhappy with the window display designs put forward by Mr Griffin, which they described as "unacceptable" and asked for revised plans to be put forward.

The approved designs will see the door and window frame of the shop painted a dark blue, the windows made of obscure glass and other measures carried out to ensure no-one can see inside at any time.

Planners imposed conditions on their approval to ensure there is no advertising of products on the door or window.

Despite the strong objections of members the Salvation Army, which has its York base nearby, the Adult Shop was last month given permission by councillors to become a sex shop.

It meant that Mr Griffin could sell sex items exclusively, whereas before they could make up only a small amount of his merchandise.

Updated: 09:34 Friday, March 02, 2001