A SHOPKEEPER who moved from inner London today labelled East Lancashire "worse than the East End" for racists.

Shopkeeper Nasir Ahmed spoke out after vandals sprayed racist graffiti on the door of his shop in Clayton-le-Moors.

He said it was not the first time his Londis convenience store, Barnes Street, had been targeted since he took over five months ago.

The 50-year-old, who moved to Clayton-le-Moors last year, said: "This is the worst area I have known for this sort of thing.

"My previous shop, in London, was opposite West Ham football ground and I used to have a 34,000-strong crowd walking past on match days and I didn't have any problems.

"But here I have had graffiti sprayed and my windows smashed. It has cost me more than £400 so far in damage.

"I will have to paint over the latest graffiti, but it will just happen again.

"It is done out of prejudice and also jealousy. They think I have got everything and they have got nothing, but I have had to work for what I have. I have been working seven days a week since I was 15."

The offensive words were sprayed on to a side door of the store in white paint between 9pm on Friday and 5.30am on Saturday.

Sergeant Dave Reddin, of Great Harwood police, said: "We have had a report of racist graffiti at the Londis shop, in Barnes Street. The owner has had a few problems since he took over.

"Unknown offenders have approached the side of the shop and used white paint to spray the words in 6cm-high letters on to a door,

"This has caused £50-worth of damage."

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact Great Harwood police on 01254 884800 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.