Residents and shopkeepers in a street just yards from Old Market say it is like porn corner these days.

There is a sex shop, adult film shop, lap-dancing bar and two massage parlours in West Street, Old Market.

They say it is bad for business and it is putting people off visiting the street.

Local people signed a petition to get one massage parlour closed down because it broke planning rules.

But two weeks ago it reopened under a different name two doors away.

The parlour, Massage At Number 9 Twice As Nice, sits between a windsurfing shop, where parents and their young children shop, and a string of family-run hardware and computer businesses which have been there for up to 60 years.

One upset shopkeeper told the Post: "It's absolutely disgusting."

An employee at a nearby shop said: "We're not happy, it gives such a bad image to the local area. It's turning into the red light district of Bristol."

A local landlord, who wished not to be named, said it was a disgrace that the city council was not regenerating this area, which is just a few hundred metres away from the multimillion-pound Cabot Circus.

He said: "We don't want them there and we are looking at the council to remove them. They are opening without planning permission and they have also made changes to the outside of the building without permission.

"We will be tracking the council very closely to make sure they go ahead with enforcement.

"It discourages businesses from opening up in the area. The rent in the area is pretty low, but even with the low rent it is not an appealing area in which to live. We need to maintain the pressure on the council. This is an area which is a stone's throw away from Cabot Circus and an international hotel. It's ridiculous."

Barbara Cook, who owns TE Stone Ltd, a few doors down from the parlour, said: "It's like porn corner around here now. There are a couple of flats above it, but all the tenants have now moved out. Who wants to live above something like that?

"I think that we've got more than enough places like that around here already. We've got the adult shop two doors from that, the adult video shop, another massage parlour, a lap-dancing club, and a massage parlour. Enough is enough. Business is not good, it is putting people off coming to the area altogether."

Richard King is the owner of Windsurfers World, which stands in between the massage parlour's original position, and where it is now.

He said: "We got them closed down a couple of months ago and now they've opened up again on the other side.

"The council keeps telling us that they are going to clean up the area. Lots of families lived above, who have now moved out.

"It's not good for business at all. Mums come in here with their children and they are not happy about it."

Councillor Brenda Hugill (Lab, Lawrence Hill) said: "We are really upset, because we thought we had put this to bed. There are many young families moving into what is supposed to be an up-and-coming area. But people do not want to live near a knocking shop. It's nothing more than prostitution and a place were drug dealing can operate from."

A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: "We are taking enforcement action. The premises have been advised that they opened against the advice of the planning enforcement team and the appropriate action will be taken."

The massage parlour owner was unavailable for comment.