A BALTI house manager has vowed he will not be run out of town by racists who tried to blow up his take-away.

Montaz Ali has run Whitworth Balti Palace, in Market Street, Whitworth, for four years and although the premises was set on fire twice three years ago he improved security and had no problems until this weekend.

When he left the take-away at 12.30am on Saturday it was quiet, but by 2.30am police and firefighters were called because the premises has been broken into, vandalised, fires set and the gas turned on.

PC Ian Whitehead, from Rossendale police, said: "Fortunately the gas had not ignited or the fire brigade said it would have caused extensive damage to the building and surrounding properties and also put the lives of fire officers at risk.

"We urgently want to speak to the person who dialled 999 from the phone box at the junction of Hall Street and Market Street at 3.14am on Saturday to report the fire." The back of the building, in Hall Street, has metal grilles over the windows and a metal roller shutter over the door.

On Saturday morning the walls and grilles were spray painted with racist graffiti, the initials BNP and swastikas.

The grilles were prised off, the roller shutter had been cut through and the back door smashed in using a hammer.

Several thousand pounds worth of damage was caused when a cooker was smashed, stock was removed from the fridges and thrown over the floor and the initials BNP were smeared on the fridge.

The gas on the cookers was turned on and fires were lit in the basement and kitchen areas.

Mr Ali said: "Why are they doing this to me? All I am trying to do is earn a living. We will be back, we were back after the last time and we have run it for three years without a problem.

"We are just waiting for the insurance people to come and assess the damage.

"I have already had many calls from customers and I want to reassure them that we will reopen as soon as we can."

Mr Ali's friend, who was helping to clean up the take-away, Azizur Rahmandara said: "He has lost at least £5,000 in stock alone, and the damage could be up to £35,000."

Mr Ali added: "If anyone saw anyone in the area please will they contact the police and tell them what they saw."

PC Whitehead also appealed for information, even if it is anonymous, and urged people to call 01706 237441.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.