A SHOPKEEPER today claimed he will defy town planners and protect his company against vandalism.

Andrew McAllister, owner of the One Stop Copy Shop, Railway Road, Darwen, is to install a £1,200 shutter system without planning permission.

This is to protect the front window which has been kicked in twice in the past five weeks, the latest being on March 15, leaving Mr McAllister with a £1,000 repair bill.

He says his insurance company has warned it will be unwilling renew his policy -- which runs out later this year, without a shutter and his premium would significantly increase.

But Mr McAllister has been told by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council that there could be complications in obtaining consent to install a shutter as Railway Road is a conservation area.

This means any alterations to premises have to be 'in keeping' with the surrounding area.

He claims a council officer verbally declined his request for a shutter a week ago but has agreed to hear his case in six weeks.

But Mr McAllister says he cannot afford wait that long.

"I'm going to protect my property," he said, "I have reach the end of my tether. I'm more frustrated than anything else.

"If I pulled out of town there would be an empty shop boarded up and it would look out of keeping with the area anyway. I don't think the council is helping."

Mr McAllister, whose has run the shop in Darwen since 1984, said vandalism seemed to be on the increase in the town. He has contacted other shop owners and found that £8,500 of glass had been broken on Railway Road in the past two years.

He said: "It is just mindless. I've installed a grill behind the glass so they couldn't break through, but they just wanted to kick and smash the window. They didn't intend to steal anything.

"It is an independent shop and I have reasonably good business, but this is becoming ridiculous. If I am refused insurance I will go out of business."

He added that he hoped council officers would be sympathetic and award retrospective planning permission in six weeks time.

Detective Sergeant Ian Critchley, of Darwen CID, confirmed police are investigating two incidents of vandalism at the One Stop Copy Shop.