A WOMAN who owns one of Bacup's most established businesses is considering closing for good after vandals attempted to kick in the front door of her shop.

Barbara Kyme (pictured), of Hooley's in Market Street, discovered the damage on Good Friday and declared that it was the last straw.

She said: "I've had the shop for 38 years, and I've never known anything like this -- trying to kick in the door, in broad daylight.

"It shows how bad things have got in Bacup.

"I'm 60, and I really don't want the upset of it all. I've had enough. I just feel like shutting up shop. That would be another empty one in Bacup."

Mrs Kyme said Bacup police are checking the pictures from CCTV cameras as part of their inquiries into the criminal damage.

Mrs Kyme originally opened the shop with her first husband, Harry Hooley, who died 13 years ago.

She added: "Surely someone must have seen something.

"I don't know what's happening to Bacup. I don't think shutting the police station at night helps. But I'm not knocking the police -- they were on to this pretty quickly and got it sorted out."

Anybody with information about the incident is asked to call Bacup police on 01706 215242.