It is not a seedy sex site, it sells products to shy people

Welsh Assembly spokeswoman

It also sells treatment for medical conditions such as haemorrhoids - products shoppers might be embarrassed to buy over the counter.

However, the Welsh Assembly has supported the funding.

"This is about enterprise," said a spokeswoman. "It is not a seedy sex site, it sells products to shy people."

The two men behind the company - former student entrepreneurs Steven Aicheler and John Schlamm - were each paid �144 a week for nine months while they launched the business.

Funding came from the Welsh Assembly sponsored Education and Learning Wales (ELWa) which gave �10,368 from a fund awarded to encourage entrepreneurhip.

David Davies AM: Nothing wrong with funding

Director of the ELWa fund Pat Jones defended their decision to hand over taxpayer's cash to the pair, saying it gave "a small but vital life support to a fledgling company."

"The economic future of Wales depends on evolving into a knowledge-led economy, sustained by a new generation of higher value businesses."

"One way to achieve this is to nurture and support the young people with the ideas and the talent for business who are emerging from our colleges and universities."

The men behind the company who are both Cardiff graduates said the grant allowed them to five up their day jobs as barmen and helpdesk operators.

Marine geography graduate, John Schlamm,said: "We are sensible about the prospects for the business, we have a good concept and we aim to have a steady income from it."

"We work hard, keep our overheads low by doing everything ourselves including mailing the packages."

I am not one of their customers and I am not after a pair of edible underpants, but there is nothing wrong with the funding in principle if it keeps people in employment

David Davies

Conservative AM David Davies has also welcomed the Elwa funding for the site.

"A few of their products seem a bit tacky but there is a well-established principle of using public money to help set up businesses."

"I am not one of their customers and I am not after a pair of edible underpants, but there is nothing wrong with the funding in principle if it keeps people in employment," said Mr Davies.