Ireland- BRIGHT pink notebooks, funky erasers and stylish pencil cases are on the minds of many little girls this month in the run-up to the new academic year.

But the suitability of a new line of stationery depicting the logo of soft-porn empire Playboy has been queried by the National Parents Council.

The stationery including bunny shaped notepads, address books and ringbinders is on sale at major stores around the country such as Easons and Roches, with prices starting at just €1.50.

Each product depicts an authentic holographic Playboy logo and rabbit’s head design, both synonymous with Hugh Hefner’s pornographic empire.

The stores have placed the products beside school supplies for characters like Winnie the Pooh. National Parents Council Post Primary vice-president Jim Jackman said the items were “shocking stuff”. “You would wonder is there any ethics remaining in the retail business any more, or is profit and greed the only value that exists any longer?” Martin Black, general manager and spokesperson for Eason & Son, said the Playboy products were very popular with 12-, 13- and 14-year-old girls and have been selling strongly. Mr Black claimed young teenagers do not associate the Playboy symbol with pornography.

Geraldine Graydon, National Parents Council Primary spokesperson, said selling products to young children which depict the Playboy bunny was “sneaky”.

“People in business are looking out for ways to sell their product and they have no sense of morals. The likes of shops like Easons shouldn’t sell things like this,” she said. The image of an ordinary rabbit would suffice rather than the Playboy bunny if they wanted a rabbit, she said. “I would urge parents not to buy these products and to request that they be removed from the store.”

In Britain the Playboy stationery line, available at WHSmith, is currently causing outrage among Catholic schools.