A MORECAMBE trader has called on the authorities to support local businesses after her front window was smashed for the third time since Christmas last week.

Karen Swindlehurst opened Silver Shell opposite the promenade to be at the forefront of Morecambe's regeneration but three years later she feels let down.

Silver Shell is situated in one of the shops fronting the Winter Gardens and she claims bricks from the decorative brick forecourt are being used to smash her windows.

"I can't understand why my shop is being targeted," said Karen. "But they are using the bricks from the forecourt to smash my windows and they can't steal anything because there is a grill in place. I've complained to my landlord, Barnfield Construction, but they never return my calls so I complained to the city council and they say it's not their responsibility."

She added: "No one wants to know. I want to be part of the efforts to get Morecambe back on its feet but its very discouraging and it feels like nothing is happening."

A council spokesman said: "We have responsibility for the highway but their is a private forecourt which we are not responsible for. We don't know who owns that."