A FURIOUS couple claim their jewellery shop has been left to look like a "ghetto" because their plans to upgrade security have been branded unacceptable.

Martin and Joanne French's plans to protect their vandal-hit shop in St Leonards Road, Bexhill, with new hi-tech security shutters were today expected to be thrown out by councillors.

For more than three years the couple has suffered from

vandals who have attacked their shop with crowbars,

high-powered catapults and bricks.

But planning officers for Rother District Council have told councillors their plans for extra security at Thomas French Jewellery are unexceptable and permission should be refused.

They say the electronically operated security shutters would be out of keeping with the town centre conservation area.

But Mr and Mrs French say their current shutters are old and ineffective.

They have now resorted to covering the shop's windows at night with ugly wooden boards.

In a letter to planners, Mr French, 46, said: "The latest

vandalism is to use high-powered catapults firing large ball-bearings from fast-moving cars, CCTV is unable to detect this."

The council's

planning committee is due to reach a decision at its meeting at Bexhill Town Hall at

6pm today.

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