BUSINESS owners have hit back after a national newspaper labelled Weymouth as ‘sleazy’.

Research by the Mirror shows the borough of Weymouth and Portland has the sixth highest number of licensed sex establishments per capita in the country.

But there are only two in Weymouth - Erotica Belle and Goldfingers – and it is the town’s smaller population compared to other towns and cities high up on the list that led to its ranking.

Jonathan Spencer, who owns Erotica Belle on Ranelagh Road, said it’s a long time since sex shops have been considered ‘sleazy’.

He added: “It’s not surprising but it’s not really fair because the two sex establishments in Weymouth are very different types of business. Most women would not go into a strip joint. And our customers come from all over Dorset, and even from Yeovil, so the catchment area for our business is a lot bigger than just Weymouth.

“It’s about supply and demand. If we did not have a huge customer base, we wouldn’t be here.”

Duncan Mayer is the owner of Goldfingers Gentleman’s Club on New Street.

“It would be nice if there were different categories to distinguish between the different types of business.

“The name of the licence is a bit scary, but really, this business is just about dancing. There may be people mortified their town is on this list but we didn’t have any objections when we renewed our licence.

“I don’t think being in the list will case negative aspersions on the town. If anything, maybe it will encourage more people to come here.”

The list was topped by Westminster, which includes the notorious district of Soho, and has 30 sex establishments, or one per 8,077 residents.

Weymouth and Portland, in sixth place, has two, or one per 32,583 residents.

Also ranking highly were Blackpool, Camden and Bournemouth.

By law, sex establishments must be licensed, although each local authority has its own policy.

Councillors can refuse an application based on the number of establishments already operating in an area, or if the licence is deemed inappropriate to the character of the area.