Bar owner: hammer attack not our fault

Mehmet Nuri Vuranel has spent the past seven years building up his town centre business, but said: "After this incident and the publicity it generated, we have lost more than 70 per cent of our customers."

People in St Leonard's Road were left shocked and frightened when a black pick-up truck containing three men pulled up near MJz and one of the trio got out and hit a man sitting outside with a hammer.

After shouting obscenities at his victim, who was struck across the neck, the man jumped back into the truck before it sped off the wrong way down a one-way street.

Police were quickly on the scene and officers have since appealed for any witnesses to the 3.50pm attack to come forward.

Inspector James Scott, of Bexhill Police, said: "I have seen the closed circuit television (CCTV) footage for the incident.

"It was totally unrelated to MJz, and nothing to do with anyone else in the premises.

"The target that the suspects were looking for just happened to be sitting outside at the time, and the owner actually got involved in splitting them up.

"He's been very supportive of the police."

Unfortunately, residents concerned about drug and drink-fuelled disturbances in Bexhill town centre, particularly late at night, have been quick to link the incident to other anti-social behaviour in the area.

But Mr Vuranel said: "People need to put this into its proper perspective.

"We employ security staff on the door at night-time, but this attack happened in broad daylight on a weekday afternoon.

"It was most unfortunate that the victim happened to be sitting outside my business when he was attacked, I've no idea why.

"Bexhill is a low incident town and usually a very safe and pleasant place to be.

"But news of this attack seems to have put people off coming in here, and on a sunny afternoon when I would normally have, say, a dozen people enjoying coffee or drinks here, there is no-one to be seen."

Mr Vuranel said MJz opens from 11am to 11pm - 2am at weekends -and every effort is made to ensure customers are well behaved and acting within the law.

He said: "We want to work with the police to achieve this, but we cannot help it if something happens outside in the street and over which we have no control.

"I hope people will understand and not turn away from us because of this one incident.

"It was nasty, but it could have happened anywhere, and I don't think our business should be made to suffer because of it."

Anyone able to help police identify who was involved in last week's violence should call 0845 60 70 999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. All information will be treated in strict confidence.