Worshippers have been asked to pray for the closure of a New Cross "filth hole" sex cinema which is now attracting prostitutes, it has been claimed.

Club 487, opposite Addey and Stanhope School on New Cross Road, has now been up and running for more than three months, showing hardcore porn to horny punters who pay £15 a pop and re-enact some of the sex scenes in the auditorium.

Its manager - who says the venue is just a social club - has pledged to apply for a licence but Lewisham Council says no application has been received so far, leading some to believe the whole process is being prolonged for as long as possible.

In the meantime, the club is rumoured to be considering installing glory holes - openings in walls where men can be pleasured from the other side by an anonymous stranger.

According to one punter, customers have also been advised that, if there is a raid on the venue, the lights will be turned on downstairs so people have time to stop what they are doing and make themselves respectable.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said he had noticed a sharp increase in male and female prostitutes in the area and was accosted by one last week outside the "filth hole".

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He said: "It was at the cashpoint near Londis on New Cross Road. I  had just drawn some cash out on Saturday evening at about 9pm.

"A woman approached me and asked if I wanted business. I declined and walked away.

"Myself and other residents have noticed an increase in sex workers in the area, especially Friday and Saturday nights near and around this venue.

"Also groups of men hanging around outside this place on smoking breaks generally make this a kind of no go area for women at night."

He added: "It's amazing they can't just close it.

"I honestly don't think even Hamburg or Amsterdam would allow a venue that advertised it would be opening glory holes in the near future.

"I think Lewisham was a soft target."

Meanwhile, a neighbouring baptists church has even asked for divine intervention, tweeting to followers: "Please pray that a pornography/sex cinema that has opened opposite our chapel and a neighbouring school fails and closes."

The ward's Councillor Joe Dromey told News Shopper: "We're keeping in regular contact with our community safety team and the police to minimise any potential impacts on the local community in terms of crime and antisocial behaviour.  We're also in close contact with our licensing team to ensure that the rules are properly followed. 

"We've been speaking to the local community and if anyone has any concerns, I'd encourage them to get in touch with us."