The discount fashion chain began clearing the shelves of the £4 bikini sets after shocked parents slammed the 'sexy' design.

The bargain clothes retailer has promised to donate all profits from the sale of the halterneck tops to charity.

The firm also apologised to angry parents "for any offence caused".

Sexualised ... bikini pads

In a statement, a Primark spokesman said: "Primark has taken note of the concern this morning regarding the sale of certain bikini tops for girls, a product line that sells in relatively small quantities.

"The company has stopped the sale of this product line with immediate effect. Primark will donate all the profits made from this product line to a children's charity, and apologises to customers for any offence caused."

Primark was last night accused of encouraging paedophilia by selling the padded bikinis for girls.

Child protection agencies had called on the bargain clothes chain to take them off shelves.

They said little girls wearing them would be sexualised and made attractive to predatory perverts.

Rapped ... Primark store

Child protection consultant Shy Keenan, of the Phoenix Chief Advocates, urged mums and dads to boycott Primark.

She said: "It never fails to amaze me just how many High Street household names are now prepared to exploit the disgusting 'paedophile pound'."

The bikini sets, sold alongside normal costumes in the seven to eight-year-old range, come in candy pink with gold stars or black with white polka dots.

The halterneck tops - a favourite style of glamour girl Jordan - are low cut to expose flesh.

But Jenny Stallard, deputy editor of Practical Parenting and Pregnancy magazine, said: "A padded bikini for seven-year-olds is too much at too young an age.

"No wonder girls are confused about their bodies and self image."

Ms Keenan added: "You should never sexualise children.

"Kids may be learning how to look sexy in an adult way but no one is teaching them what to do if they receive unwelcome robust adult attention."

Mum-of-three Siobhan Freegard, founder of parenting website Netmums, called the tops "horrid".

She added: "This is wrong in so many ways."

Fashion lecturer Dave Morris, of De Montfort University, said: "It seems curious a High Street store is allowed to promote a 'sexy' bikini for seven-year-olds."