A SHOPKEEPER whose home, business and car were firebombed during Burnley's racial disturbances in June has written to Prime Minister Tony Blair in a bid to win compensation for the cost of the damage.

Despite gangs of Asian and white youths rampaging through the streets indiscriminately setting fire to cars and property for two nights, Burnley police have steadfastly refused to brand the events as riots.

This means that any uninsured businesses will not be compensated.

The decision to brand the troubles as "serious disturbances" was spearheaded by Peter Pike MP.

The Burnley Task Force, set up to examine the causes of the disturbances, has also refused to use the word "riots".

Mohammed Sarfraz's newsagent's on Oxford Road was not insured, owing to what he has called "financial difficulties."

He estimates the cost of the damage to be in the region of £85,000.

The letter is countersigned by 813 friends and residents who support his claim. He said: "I have written to the Prime Minister and Peter Pike asking them to change their minds.

"If I do not get paid out it will mean me losing everything."

Mohammed has managed to get the shop open again but he has moved his family to rented accommodation in Bracewell Street.

He has received a reply from Peter Pike which says that because he was not insured he cannot be helped.

The letter goes on to say that if Mr Sarfraz's shop had suffered a fire in the "normal" way, he would not have been paid out either.

Mr Sarfraz said: "I am not happy with the letter because the fire did not happen in the normal way.

"It was a riot, which I could not have foreseen -- a riot which destroyed my business and home."

Mr Sarfraz has been backed by Burnley's Deputy Mayor, Coun Rafique Malik, who has insisted that the incidents were riots and that all people who suffered a loss should be compensated.

Mr Sarfraz also included press reports from the Lancashire Evening Telegraph in his letter.

"Calling them anything other that a riot is unacceptable," he added.