Ripples have been felt across the pond thanks to a kind of men’s sex toy.

The object was being sold in a Montreal erotica shop and it only came with English instructions, which is an offence in the area. All goods have to also include a French translation.

Gay sex shop manager Mireille Gaudreault was caught by surprise by the fine she was handed for selling the objects and said the store is going to appeal it.

However, a government spokesperson noted that all products sold in Quebec, whether they are intended for the mass market or for a more niche audience, must have instructions in both of the languages.

In this case, the retail outlet was selling around 15 to 20 of the gay sex toys per year.

However, despite all the controversy caused by the fun device, it is no longer on sale.

When it was available to shoppers, the male masturbator came in a range of colours.

Indeed, such sex toys for men often come in a variety of shapes, styles and appearances. Also called pocket pussies, strokers, or penis sleeves, they are hand-held devices that generally prove at hit with those who test them.

Montreal lawyer Michael Bergman may have given Ms Gaudreault’s cause hope, after he said that her sex shop could probably present a strong appeal to the decision.

He said: “It seems like a unique, novel product. It’s logical to think that it would be exempted.”

According to the expert, the authorities should have negotiated to resolve the matter before they went to court and he suggested that the law in this area should be applied with suppleness.

Solutions to complaints need to balance the principles of legislation with the reality of the current marketplace, Mr Bergman went on to say, adding they should take into account “cosmopolitan Montreal”.