A village has boycotted a Muslim shopkeeper's store in protest at the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Residents in Shotton Colliery, County Durham have shunned Pakistani shopkeeper Kaiser Choudry's two local businesses and he claims his family and 15 members of staff are being victimised by "racists".

The 33-year-old Asian, who owns Milco Superstore and Freshco Bakery sandwich bar, has lost thousands of pounds in sales through the boycott.

Mr Choudry had planned to invest a further £300,000 in the village by building a supermarket, but after the recent aftermath of the American attacks, he fears he will have to pull out of East Durham all together.

He said: "I have been in Shotton for 12 years and until now we have been really happy. The people have always been friendly to us.

"We have done a lot for the community, including sponsoring football teams and delivery groceries for old folks who can't get out.

"But now it feels like the whole place has turned against us through no fault of our own - this is a nightmare situation.

"We are sitting here 20,000 miles away from all this trouble and yet people are accusing us of being involved - it's so cruel.

"Yes I am a Muslim, but our religion does not permit such attacks and we were as shocked and horrified as everyone else when this happened."

Mr Choudry said false rumours were rife around the village that his family were in some way connected to the terrorist atrocities.

Now he claims his wife, three children and staff are living in fear after threats were made to torch his premises.

He says his heavily pregnant wife is sick with worry, his disabled 12-year-old son cannot sleep because he is so frightened and his daughter, 10, is afraid to go to school.

He said: "My little girl came home in tears because the other children were saying we were celebrating in the shop to the news of the tragedy.

We are having to force her to go to school now and I can't sleep because I am worried we will be attacked."

The businessman said he had not reported the threats to police for fear that police involvement may somehow confirm people's suspicions.

But Inspector Geoff Smith from Peterlee Police said any complaints made would be treated seriously.

He said: "If people are bigoted in that sense they should look at themselves first - their opinions are based on ignorance.

"Any racial harassment complaints will be treated in a robust manner."