ANXIOUS residents fear a Bournemouth sex shop is about to be taken over by an operator who presents what they claim is a more “seedy” image.

Essex-based sex shop company Darker Enterprises has applied for permission to operate the Clone Zone store in the Triangle.

But their bid to transfer the current sex shop licence has sparked around 40 objections.

These claim that the Darker Enterprises’ store will be completely different from the existing business and will hinder the regeneration of the Triangle area.

One letter to the council states: “The way Darker Enterprises present their shops is seedy and this would be detrimental to trade in this area.

“Clone Zone was a lifestyle store (which had many high street retail elements rather than just sex) for the gay community and the licence was granted in the Triangle for this.

“There are already licensed stores on Holdenhurst Road catering for the straight market and there is no need for additional ones in this area.”

A local trader said: “While the current shop has a sex licence it looks like an ‘extreme’ men’s underwear shop.

“The new operator uses blacked- out shop fronts which are blatantly obvious to all as being a sex shop and will attract the unsavoury shoppers who I have no need to describe.”

And another local retailer said: “I have been told that the Triangle is an area due for regeneration and took on the lease here on the strength of that information.

“I do not believe that a sex shop will in any way enhance this area.”

No-one from Darker Enterprises was available to comment.

The council’s licensing board will consider the application on Thursday, April 16.