A DISABLED businessman has closed his Radcliffe shop after he was attacked by a thug who threatened to burn the building down.

Bryan Seddon, of Sunnybank, made the heartbreaking decision to shut The Book Shop for good after the attack, which police are investigating.

Mr Seddon, aged 57, said it was the latest in a string of incidents which have plagued him since the shop opened in Stand Lane in June.

He said: “It has been an absolute nightmare from day one. I suffer from angina and osteoporosis, and can only walk with the aid of crutches.

“Kids have been coming in questioning why I have opened a book shop and giving me grief because of my disability. They started throwing stuff at my windows. It has all been pretty distressing.”

On September 5, a teenage boy stood at the shop’s doorstep when an altercation took place.

Mr Seddon said: “He was being loud and I didn’t want him inside, so I asked him to leave.

“He walked towards me so I put my hand out to protect myself and ended up pushing him a little bit — but not at all hard enough to hurt him.

“His mum called the police. I was only defending my shop.”

Police confirmed they had received a report of the incident but no further action was taken.

Then on September 8, at 8.45am, Mr Seddon was in the shop when a man wearing a grey fleece top and trousers and a blue baseball cap came inside and launched an attack.

Mr Seddon said: “He told me that if I didn’t get out of Radcliffe in seven days, he would burn down my shop.

“Then he punched me in the forehead and knocked me to the floor. I think I passed out but eventually I managed to call 999.

“I feared for my life. I don’t understand how someone can be so callous as to attack a disabled man.”

The attacker was around 6ft high and of medium build. Anyone with information should call the police on 0161 872 5050.