AN ASIAN newsagent has had BNP scratched into the bonnet of his car by vandals.

Qamar Zaman, who has run the shop in Whalley Road, Padiham, for 18 months, woke up on Saturday morning to find the damage.

This is not the first time the 22-year-old newsagent, who lives above the shop with his wife Safina, 26, and their five-month-old baby daughter Aleesa, has suffered at the hands of vandals.

The shop windows have been smashed twice in the last two months and the windows of his car were smashed three weeks ago.

But Mr Zaman said this was the first time the vandalism has been racist.

He said: "I believe it is kids messing about, nothing more than that. I've not experienced racism here before. My customers are great.

"But this is very offensive and it has scared my wife."

Mr Zaman, who has yet to find out how much it will cost to repair the damage, said his customers rallied round to help him on Saturday when he discovered the vandals' work.

BNP councillor for Padiham, Len Starr, condoned the actions of what he called "mindless vandals".

He said: "I abhor vandalism of any kind. It is disgusting that people do things like this.

"I am inclined to think that it is youths rather than anything else. We do have problems in this area because of youths drinking in the park. I know the police are keen to clamp down on juvenile drinking in that area."

Burnley police confirmed the incident had been reported and that officers had been out to see the damage and were investigating.