WHEN some people spoke about the tone being lowered in Taunton this week, they weren't exactly referring to the river running through the town centre.

As the level of the River Tone rose after heavy rain, a storm of a different kind was brewing around the corner in Station Road.

The liberal-minded welcomed Taunton's first sex shop when it opened across the road from The Deane House on Monday, claiming it represented current feeling.

But church leaders and more conservative thinkers led a wave of protest, reckoning it would open the floodgates to a decline in standards.

Our reporter James Simnett waded into the debate in Station Road and asked readers what they thought of Harmony, Taunton's new sex shop.

Manager Wendy Rowe, who ran a Harmony shop in Torquay for 18 months, said: "Since the shop opened we've been kept very busy -- it just shows there was obviously a need for it."

Although initially the views of the public seemed to be negative, now the shop is up and running plenty of people came out in favour.

Derry Ferdinando, 53, from Trull, said: "I don't have a problem with it, but there will always be a bad name associated with this type of business.

"Once somewhere is labelled, it's very difficult to shake off that label."

Kate Morley, 22, from Taunton, simply said: "Every town needs one."

But Harmony is obviously not everyone's cup of tea and John and Joan Millar, of Lisieux Way, Taunton, were among those unhappy at seeing it open.

Joan said: "I don't think the shop is necessary. I think it will attract the wrong type of people to the area."

John said: "The shop only has a one-year licence so we'll just have to wait and see if it's still here this time next year."

For the full story, see this week's (January 16) Somerset County Gazette.