PROTESTORS have failed in a bid to close a sex shop near a tourist attraction.

Councillors have agreed to renew the licence for Sven Adult Books, in Scotswood Road, Newcastle, which has been trading for nearly 20 years and is near the International Centre for Life. Councillors were told they could not close the shop on moral grounds.

Campaigners against the shop argued that circumstances had changed since the £70m centre opened in May, and that the business did not fit in with Newcastle's aim of becoming European Capital of Culture.

Four Labour councillors objected to an application by Sven's operator, Darker Enterprises, of Essex, which runs 50 sex shops in Britain, for renewal of the licence.

Management consultant Clive Sullivan, representing the owner, said they had not received a single complaint