A MAN says his family is living in fear after racist thugs repeatedly targeted his home during a seven-month campaign of terror.

Dad-of-four Raja Zubair said that repeated attacks of vandalism and graffiti at his home in Herbert Street, Burnley, had made his life ‘hell’.

Mr Zubair said the relentless campaign has led to him making 30 calls to police, who have now launched a race-hate investigation.

Complaints from the family include:

  • Racist graffiti being daubed on windows;
  • Windows at the home being repeatedly smashed;
  • Vandals damaging the family’s car;
  • A picture of a hangman’s noose being drawn on the wall.

After the latest attack, which occurred on Monday, Mr Zubair, a social services officer who works for Trafford Council, said that he was scared for his family’s safety.

He said: “They have destroyed my life. I moved in last August and since then people have been smashing my windows over and over again, they have damaged my car bonnet and even tried to get into my house.

“They have been hitting my front door, knocking on it at four in the morning. They are keeping me up at night.

“I have no idea why they are targeting me but it is not children or even teenagers - there are gangsters round here.”

Mr Zubair, who has four children aged seven, 11, 12 and 13, said three men were mainly to blame but as many as 20 others were involved.

And he said the attacks were affecting his children and making him afraid to leave his family alone at home.

He added: “I am a family man and I am a working man.

"When I am at work in Manchester I get calls from my family saying what’s going on.

“Sometimes I have to come home from work early to sort out what’s happening because I don’t want to leave my kids alone.

“I tell them to stay in and my wife wants to move house but I own the property and I can’t sell it at the moment.”

Trinity ward councillor Tony Lambert said he knew about the case but did not believe the attacks were racially-motivated.

He said: “He has tried his best and police are also aware of the situation and we will do what we can.

“It is a gable end property and you do get kids playing football on those houses, even though they shouldn’t.

“I am happy with the police response but I do sympathise with him.”

Coun Wajid Khan added: “This is quite shocking but I don’t think racism is a particular problem in the Trinity area.

“Trinity is not a predominantly Asian community so we need to be able to encourage people to live there and integrate.

“Parts of Burnley are still segregated but we want to move towards a cohesive community so the town is a cosmopolitan area.”

Insp Mark Baines, from Burnley police, said officers had received a report of damage to windows and racist graffiti at Mr Zubair’s house relating to an incident on Monday night.

He added: “Incidents of this nature are taken extremely seriously and a full and thorough investigation is now underway, involving Pennine division’s hate crime and diversity unit.

“I would appeal for anyone who may be able to assist that investigation to search their conscience and come forward.”

A police spokeswoman said Mr Zubair had made six complaints to police in the last year.

Anyone with information about the incidents should contact police on 01282 425001 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.