The meeting was chaired by local councillor Phil Wait and was attended by developer Tony Ibrahim whose plans to open an adult superstore have caused a major stir locally.

The restaurant premises already have planning permission for a retail outlet but Mr Ibrahim has applied for a sex shop licence to enable him to sell a full range of adult films and magazines.

Villagers are hugely concerned the enterprise will cause house prices to drop and will put off new people moving to Guyhirn.

They also fear it will give the wrong impression of Fenland to drivers passing by on the A47.

There are also concerns the store's signage and external paintwork will be distracting to drivers and could lead to accidents.

Mr Ibrahim said he was not surprised by the strength of feeling at the meeting but said he had done his best to offer reassurances.

However, speaking afterwards, he felt that no matter what he said people were still going to oppose his plans.

"People are worried about the colour I'm planning to paint the windows, they don't like the name, but when I asked them for what I should do instead they could not answer.

"We don't want to offend anyone, but Fenland people need to move with the times," said Mr Ibrahim.

Mr Wait said there are now plans for a second meeting when it is hoped Fenland Council officers will attend to listen to the locals' viewpoint.

He said those who attended were urged to put their opposition in writing to the district council before June 11.

Mr Wait said the main objections raised ranged from not wanting the business in the village, to worries over house prices and the fact the site is at one of the main 'gateways' into Fenland.

However, Bev Warden, who managed the now closed Wisbech sex shop for nearly three years, has voiced support for Mr Ibrahim.

She cannot understand all the fuss and said in her time at the Wisbech store she never once had any problems or trouble.

And she said it was extremely well supported with customers treating the shop as a kind of 'doctor's surgery' asking for advice on how they could improve their love lives.

Mrs Warden added that local people are currently forced to travel to King's Lynn and Peterborough to visit adult shops and that business would be better kept in Fenland.