Racial bigots have been blamed for attempting to drive out the first Indian takeaway in Cononley.

But Raj Ali and his partner Abdul Motin, both 24-year-olds from Keighley, have vowed not to be defeated.

"This will not stop us," pledges Mr Ali. "It has made us more determined to go ahead."

Villagers in Cononley have spoken of their shame at the two attacks over the past two weekends on the new Balti Hut in Main Street. The vandals have smashed windows, daubed the front stonework in black and grey paint, poured glue in the lock and splashed paint stripper on the sign.

They have even turned their hatred on pub landlord Roland Hall, who runs the nearby New Inn, by painting his Rover car with the words 'NF Paki Hater'.

Mr Ali says: "We can't understand why it has happened because everyone has been so friendly and helpful. We have been planning this for three months, so why should this attack happen now?

"A lot of people have come up to us and said how ashamed they are it has happened here."

He says they have spent thousands of pounds on getting the shop right, especially in fitting proper filters, and they hope to open in two weeks' time.

Landlord Mr Hall says: "Whoever's done this are mindless idiots. It looks as if they are trying to set me up, but it is just ridiculous."

Mary Peet, the wife of Cononley Vicar John Peet, says people in the village are outraged. "The attitude of people is one of support and sympathy for Mr Ali," she says. "Most people welcome his business into the village."

A villager, who wished to remain anonymous, told us: "If whoever has done this thinks they are speaking for the village they have got it wrong. People are disgusted by what has happened. It is the work of prejudiced bigots."

A spokesman for Skipton police confirms there have been two incidents of damage and police are investigating.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.