Eyebrows could be raised and pulses set racing later this year following news Elmbridge Council will abolish its "zero tolerance" towards sex shops.

A spokesperson for the council would not confirm any details of its new policy for handing out sex establishment licenses until a Licensing Committee meeting in June has been held.

But two councillors on the committee told the Elmbridge Guardian the authority would be changing its stance towards sex shops, perhaps as soon as this summer.

A sex establishment could refer to anything from underwear shops such as Ann Summers or Agent Provocateur, to cinemas and shops that transmit and sell pornographic films .

Councillor Rowan Cole, who represents Walton Central, was one councillor who believed the previous policy was outdated.

He said: "The zero tolerance was old fashioned and we are now catching up with the 21st century, but lifting the zero tolerance doesn't mean we're going to get brothels on Walton High Street.

"This is a welcome step forward and residents shouldn't be worried. Any sex establishment application would be sounded by councillors who would determine what's right and proper.”

He added, in the current economic climate, the council should be encouraging all small businesses to set-up shop in Elmbridge - even if they distributed pornography.

He said: "It would be wrong for the council to strangle these types of businesses."

The Elmbridge Guardian spoke to a Weybridge woman who contemplated opening a shop selling underwear and sex toys.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said: “I think this is great news. I thought about setting one up a few years ago, but then realised I would have no chance of getting it accepted by the council.

“I reckon it will be a nice little money spinner. People enjoy sex in Elmbridge just as they do anywhere else.”