Southport shopkeeper tells of ransacking 'nightmare'

Chanaka Balasuryla said "thugs" burst into his store stole stock worth thousands

A shopkeeper has told of his "nightmare" after his convenience store was ransacked and looted when violent scenes broke out in Southport following Monday's stabbings.

Chanaka Balasuryla said more than £10,000 worth of stock from Windsor Mini Mart was stolen when "thugs" bricked the windows and burst in.

Unrest flared in the Merseyside town on Tuesday night, shortly after a vigil in memory of the children killed in a knife attack on Monday.

Mr Lalasuriya, who is of Sri Lankan background, was able to watch his store being targeted remotely on CCTV as he had gone home for the evening, fearing the area could become unsafe.

The 47-year-old said: “It took 10 or 15 minutes for them to break in. They were taking turns to kick in the glass.

"I also saw fire outside. They lit up cardboard outside and I feared they were going to burn it down.

"I dialled 999 as people live upstairs.

"My kids saw it on CCTV too. They were screaming and crying, so I turned it off."

A large disturbance broke out on Tuesday night shortly after a vigil for the dance class stabbing victims

Viewing the damage the next morning, the father-of-two said: “It was horrendous. Everything was on the floor.

“They took everything. They were eating inside, crisps were all over the place.

“It’s a nightmare. I don’t have insurance.

“It’s awful, but the community are going to help with fundraising.

“These people need to be punished."

People in the town later gathered to help clean up debris left by the disturbance

Rose Tucker, 32, runs a nearby beauty salon and started a crowdfunding page to support Mr Balasuryla.

She said: "Another shop next to us has had a window smashed, but nothing as deliberate as the Mini Mart, I don't think."

Local MP Patrick Hurley said the unruly scenes close to a mosque, which saw officers pelted with bricks and a police van set on fire, had been "horrific".

A Police Federation spokesman said more than 50 police officers were hurt in the "sustained and vicious attack".

Merseyside Police said the violence was believed to have involved English Defence League supporters.