A BUSINESSWOMAN has blasted thieves who broke into her sandwich bar by writing an angry message on her menu board.

Janet McLardy chalked a message to customers saying: "This unit will be closed today as some b******s broke in last night" and left it outside the takeaway in Brunswick Street, Nelson, yesterday.

Thieves broke a window at the back of Big Al's sandwich bar on Monday night and stole the till containing about £60.

The break-in sent glass showering over food and catering equipment and Janet spent yesterday tidying up and ordering new food so she could re-open for business today.

The mystery deepened when Janet received two telephone calls from someone claiming to be a police officer and threatening she would be charged unless she took the sign down.

But when Janet contacted the police she was told no-one knew anything about the calls or any complaint about the sign.

"This has got beyond playing silly games," said Janet. "It's got to be a bit scary. Someone has been ringing me and pretending to be a police officer. It's not on. "No one has complained to me about the sign. I was asking people as they went past if they thought it was offensive and no one said it was.

"The message was the way I felt and it was only the kind of language you would hear on TV.

"The only people who would be offended by it were the people who broke in."

Janet said the bar had been the subject of complaints from nearby residents since it opened 12 months ago.

She said she feared the malicious phone calls may have been linked to the campaign.

Residents fought unsuccessfully to stop the original temporary planning permission being granted by Pendle Council.

And Janet said she expected renewed opposition when the permission comes up for renewal shortly.

Police confirmed no complaints had been received and no officer had spoken to Janet about the sign.

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