Co-operative, which runs around 4000 retail outlets, have said set a deadline of six weeks for lads' mags and other similar magazines that cover up their front pages or be removed from tis outlets.

The retailer said that it is moving following concerns from its members, customers and colleagues regarding the scantily clad women on covers. It has set a deadline for magazines like Front, Loaded, Nuts and Zoo until 9 September to cover up their magazines in protective covers if they wish to continue to be sold through the outlets.

The Co-op, which is owned and run by its more than seven million members, had also introduced opaque screens for lads' magazines earlier in the month. However, the most effective way to protect children and sell the magazines is to put them in sealed modesty bags at the store.

Steve Murrells, retail chief executive for the Co-operative Group, said, "As a community-based retailer, we have listened to the concerns of our customers and members, many of whom say they object to their children being able to see overt sexual images in our stores. Whilst we have tried to mitigate the likelihood of young children seeing the images with a number of measures in store, the most effective way of doing this is for these magazines to be put in individual, sealed modesty bags."

Women and Equalities Minister Jo Swinson backed the move by the Co-operative in the UK.