The adult toy, in which a bikini-clad doll gyrates around a pole to the accompaniment of disco music and flashing lights, was on sale last week in the Christmas gifts and children's toys section of M&S's flagship Grafton Street store.

Titled 'Girls, Girls, Girls' and retailing for 29, the box in which the toy comes does state: "This product is intended for adults. Not suitable for children."

"We are disappointed and surprised that an element of the sex industry which abuses women on a vast scale is represented by Marks and Spencer, " said a spokeswoman for Ruhama, a support group for women who have worked in prostitution.

"This maybe was done unknowingly. However, the fact that Marks and Spencer in anyway supports lap dancing means it it essentially supporting all that this industry entails.

Normalising any aspect of the sex industry is essentially supporting the abuse of women, " said the Ruhama spokeswoman.

But a spokeswomen for Marks and Spencer said that the pole-dancer toy was intended as a "fun Christmas gift for adults".

"Marks and Spencer did not intend to cause anybody any offence and has taken the product off the shelves, " said the spokeswoman.

Last month, Tesco in the UK decided to pull a raunchy poledancing kit from the toys and games section of its website after protests from parents.

"Unleash the sex-kitten inside. Soon you'll be flaunting it to the world and earning a fortune in Peekaboo dance dollars, " said the blurb on Tesco's Peekaboo pole-dancing kit.

Tesco removed the kit from its website, but said it would still sell it as a "fitness accessory".