A MAN whose new business was attacked after being open for only a week is hoping to appeal to the better nature of the vandals to prevent any further damage.

Darren Dickinson, 36, who opened Substance Fine Arts Bureau, in Clarence Street, York, last week, has had to foot an estimated £300 bill after large lumps of concrete were hurled through the two main windows at his premises in the early hours of Tuesday.

The missiles also damaged two of the works on show.

Mr Dickinson shows and sells prints and paintings by poorly-paid artists in the Far East in a bid to boost their incomes and recognition.

When he spoke to fellow traders in the street following the damage, they told him shops there had been vandalised before.

He said: "The reaction I got was, 'You have just got to learn to live with it', but I think that's not really good enough.

"I am just starting out on my own in a new business trying to earn money for myself and others.

"I'm a local lad from York and I grew up in one of the roughest areas. Myself and my family are good honest people just trying to get on in life and I would hope the people who do this sort of thing might have some respect for that."

The damage was even more of a blow as Mr Dickinson had spent the bank holiday weekend doing other work to earn extra money.

That money has now been swallowed up by the repair bill.

"They didn't even steal anything, it was just sheer vandalism," he added.

"But I'm not going to let it get me down. I have got to try and rise above it."

The incident, which is thought to have happened at about 3am, was today being investigated by the police.

Updated: 12:03 Thursday, April 04, 2002