AN Indian restaurant owner who has been the subject of on-going vandalism attacks says the situation is 'worrying' and wants CCTV installed.

Sukhis Gohel, 52, owns Sukhis restaurant, in Blackburn Road, Darwen. It has been open for 10 months and during that time it has been subjected to four attacks. The first attack took place on Mothering Sunday. Since then, three other attacks have taken place.

In one incident a brick was put through the door when the restaurant was open.

On Thursday last week, two windows were broken and on Saturday night after, the windows had been replaced, vandals kicked them in yet again. The 10ft-high windows cost £500 to replace. Mr Gohel added his bin had also been set on fire.

He said: "I have no idea why this is happening. I have asked the police for CCTV but they won't provide it -- but I pay my taxes."

Mr Gohel, who has been in the restaurant trade for 21 years in Darwen, added: "I've no enemies here, but this is really worrying ." He said the attacks mainly happened on the weekend. Det Sgt Ian Critchley, of Darwen CID, said: "We are aware of a number of incidents in this area and a community beat officer is looking at working to prevent these from happening.

"We want to find out who is doing this and a number of plain clothes officers are being deployed in the area."

He added that they would be liaising closely with Mr Gohel about the matter.

In April this year, town centre traders vowed to fight on in their bid to install more high security surveillance cameras to stop vandalism in the area.

Members of the Darwen Town Centre Trade Association were disappointed to hear their application to the Home Office for extra CCTV cameras in the town centre had been turned down for the third time.

News of the latest rejection came amid reports there had been an increase in criminal damage to properties in the Railway Road area.