PRAYERS at a Christian Science Reading Room have been answered after an application for Ipswich's first-ever licenced sex shop was rejected.The sex shop, to be called ETC, caused a storm of protest after it was earmarked for St Matthews Street.

By Amanda Cresswell

PRAYERS at a Christian Science Reading Room have been answered after an application for Ipswich's first-ever licenced sex shop was rejected.

The sex shop, to be called ETC, caused a storm of protest after it was earmarked for St Matthews Street.

At one stage parents at nearby St Matthew's primary school added their names to a petition to prevent the application going through.

The council's decision is good news for Joan Bloomfield, a volunteer at the Christian Science Reading Room.

"I am very grateful," said the 61-year-old, who signed the petition. "Our prayers have been answered.

"There was a lot on prayer going on about it because we didn't want the shop. We want purity.

"Also a lot of children pass here and we need to keep their thoughts pure. Children are innocent and we want to keep it that way."

Jean Fawcett, of Suffolk Animal Rescue, was also delighted to hear the news.

"I think the petition did help. But I was thinking more about children than anything else because they pass here."

However although Ipswich Borough Council rejected the licence, it could still open as an 'adult' shop.

The town already has retailers offering adult goods such as The Adult Shop in Upper Orwell Street and Secrets in Norwich Road. But a sex shop sells more explicit material.

A spokesman for the borough council, of the application made by Sheffield-based Eccleshall Trading Company: "The application was not successful. It was felt that the granting of the proposed licence was inappropriate to the character of the locality."

Stephen Westley who made the application on behalf of the company was not available to comment.

The company has the option to appeal or to now try and open as an adult shop.