BATTLING cobbler Tony Martin fears his family business may be forced to close over a £1,600 rates bill.

Magistrates have granted Durham City Council a liability order for the £1,580 in business rates arrears owed on the shop, Durham Cobbler, which has been in Claypath since 1854.

Mr Martin has waged a campaign alleging mis-management by Durham City Council since yellow lines were painted outside the shop, which he has turned into a giant notice board for his allegations.

Mr Martin, 37, of North Shields, is also standing as an Independent councillor in the forthcoming Durham County Council elections.

He told the court: "They will have to take me to prison. How can they recover the money when I'm thousands of pounds in debt.''

Mr Martin, who was asked to leave the court for interrupting the clerk, added: "Thanks for closing the business.''

Earlier, Mr Martin claimed he was not liable for the arrears because the business had not been officially transferred from his father, Anthony.

He told the court Mr Martin Senior suffered a nervous breakdown after a police surveillance operation on his shop and now only worked part-time.

City council recovery officer Carol Ann Taylor said regardless of who owned the business, Mr Martin was responsible for the bill under rates law.

The court apologised to Mr Martin for a letter it sent that mistakenly told him the hearing was for a committal to prison for non-payment.

Mr Martin, who said trade had fallen severely since the yellow lines appeared, said afterwards: "It is the final nail in the coffin."