London, May 30 (ANI): Shakespeare’s hometown Stratford-upon-Avon is witnessing serious response after a sex shop received a thumbs up to have its opening near the Bard’s birthplace.

The upcoming launch of Romeo and Juliet’s Adult Boutique, looking to sell saucy toys and porn DVDs just yards from where thousands flock every year to visit the playwright’s home, has incurred the wrath of community leaders.

Rev Martin Gorick, vicar of Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare is buried, fears the raunchy shop would disgrace the poet’s home in Warwickshire.

“It depresses me - something so seedy will be in such a prominent position,” the Sun quoted him as saying.

“It’s a degradation of the environment. It’s a very prominent shop in a family area where schoolkids congregate,” he added.

Mayor Cllr Jenny Fradgley further said: “It’s not the image people want for Stratford.”

But owner Katie Gilbert, 33, believes products such as sweets shaped like Romeo and Juliet having sex would re impose Shakespeare’s treatment of passion in his plays.

She said: “We’ll have Shakespeare-style novelty gifts, as well as lingerie and things for stag and hen parties. Some people are too stuffy about the place.

“If you look at Shakespeare’s plays they were all about sex. I think he’d have approved.”

A spokeswoman for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust added: “We don’t have a problem with it as such. Many retailers and restaurants use names associated with Shakespeare. It is no surprise this shop does the same.” (ANI)