PLANS to convert a derelict Rednal property into a sex shop have been abandoned.

The scheme to transform the Bristol Road South building into a store selling sexually explicit material had prompted a wave of protests from residents.

They were particularly worried as the proposed shop would have been within half a mile of three schoolsand the Longbridge Methodist Church.

Brian Kite, of Jellybabies Nursery, based in Longbridge church, set up a petition and collected more than 1,000 signatures, which was sent to Birmingham City Council's planning department.

He said residents felt it was a completely inappropriate site for the shop but claimed the applicant had withdrawn his interest in the property, which is on the market with international estate agent King Sturge.

"I think the estate agent may have been bombarded with complaints, so decided it would not sell the property to someone who wanted to use it for those purposes," Mr Kite added.

A spokesman for the Birmingham office off King Sturge said: "We have had a lot of interest in the property, although not from anyone wanting to use it for that purpose.

"We have had interest from a firm wanting to use it as an educational facility or as a warehouse - as it has been used previously," he added.