A Bradford businessman has condemned vandals who attacked his parade of shops causing thousands of pounds of damage.

Keith Waters described the scene at his Park Road shops as being "like the third world war" when he arrived for work yesterday.

Five illuminated shop signs had been smashed with bricks and the wires of a CCTV camera, bought to deter thugs, had been ripped out so no footage of the culprits was taken.

"It was just like the third world war, literally thousands of pounds worth of damage had been done," he said.

"All of the illuminated fascias above the shops had been smashed."

Mr Waters, 76, runs one of the shops, off-licence K & B Waters & Son, with his wife Beryl and son Tony and rents out the other four: a caf, fish and chip shop, hairdressers and fishing tackle store.

He said he was devastated at the vandalism to his business, which he had spent years developing.

"We have been here since 1972. It was derelict when we came and we have built it up over the years. We have put a lot of work in trying to get a balanced parade of shops."

Mr Waters said rents on the other units were deliberately kept low to make it easier for the shopkeepers to run their businesses.

The street had been plagued by anti-social behaviour from young people hanging around the shops and fireworks had been thrown at shops, he said.

Councillors representing the Little Horton ward said they were aware of increasing anti-social behaviour in the district over the last few months.

Councillor Sher Khan (Lab) said his colleague Councillor Taj Salam (Lab) had previously met the police to try to stop the problems.

"We are trying to work with the community. We have been told it is a few lads from out of the area," he said.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said officers were investigating the incident and any witnesses or anyone with information should telephone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.