A SEX shop in Atherton will be allowed to stay open after it received a last minute reprieve from the council.

The Hot Spot will remain in business until the beginning of August when town hall licensing officers will review the situation again.

The controversial Market Street shop looked likely to close last month because its manager had failed to notify Wigan Council of the amount of pornographic material sold on its premises.

But since then, meetings have taken place between licensing officers and the sex store bosses and it was agreed to allow them one month to get in line with standards set by the law.

They must disclose if there is a "significant degree" of pornographic material on sale. If there is the Hot Spot will need to apply for a licence.

Assesment

A council spokesman said: "We had a meeting where we put our case to them and they put their case to us and we have given them one month to sort things out.

"At the beginning of August we will look and make an assessment to see if it does need a licence or it doesn't exceed the level and will be within the law."

Last month a member of staff at the sex shop told The Journal she would fight any bid to close the Hot Spot.

Sales assistant Mary Miller said it had done good business since it opened 16 months ago and customers had supported them against the closure.

The Hot Spot managers will also learn the fate of their Personal Services shop in Platt Bridge next month.