A BLACKBURN market cafe owner said his business had been jeopardised by the sealing off of the outdoor customer terrace after a tile fell from the Mall frontage.

Daniel Moffett and his mother, Susan Sumner, spent £3,000 to turn the front of Butlers Family Restaurant into the French-style “Terrasse” selling beer, wine and cider.

The tile fell on Thursday, falling more than 50 feet and smashing on the pavement.

Last night, six days later with half of Church Street in front of the cafe still sealed off, they said they were concerned about lost trade worth hundreds of pounds and paying staff instead of expanding their business.

Mr Moffett said: “I am very concerned and increasingly angry. It has been six days. I have spoken to the management of the Market and the Mall and they keep telling me it will be sorted but it hasn’t.

“I have just got a licence to sell alcohol and spent £3,000 on parasols, chairs and tables, signs, barriers, and new menus to create a cafe-style outside drinking area and I can do nothing with them.

“I can’t even put my existing tables and chairs outside.

“It’s costing me hundreds of pounds a week in trade. I am getting to the point where I may not be able to pay my staff’s wages.

“Butler’s is very much still open. I shall be seeking compensation from someone.”

Mrs Sumner said: “It’s a shambles.

“Either it’s safe and the cordon comes away or it isn’t and they replace the tiles.”

Blackburn MP Jack Straw said: “Someone needs to sort out this tile issue pretty quickly.”

Mall general manager Loraine Jones said: “We can confirm checks have been carried out on the tiling and we are confident that the single tile which came loose during high winds was an isolated incident.

"The area remains cordoned off because we are waiting for written confirmation of this. This is in-line with our health and safety policy which is our main priority.

“We do understand the incident has been frustrating for Butlers Café and we have been in regular contact with the owner. We hope to have the area opened again very soon and thank our customers for their patience.”

Keith Holden, market manager, said: “The Market management team is obviously aware of the impact the cordon on Church Street is having on Butler’s Café.

“This situation is receiving our urgent attention and we are in constant contact with the Mall to bring a speedy conclusion. Extra signage will be placed on Church Street informing customers that Butler’s is still open for business.”