Business partners believe they are being targeted in a racially-motivated campaign of vandalism after a series of attacks on their cafe.

Nauman Shah, 38, and Saba Zaidi, 37, took over The Sun Street Cafe in Sun Street, Waltham Abbey, in June 2012.

But in that time, the windows of the business have been smashed six times, costing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

While there is no firm evidence that the attacks are racially motivated, the pair, from Pakistan, are convinced they are being targeted due to their ethnicity, as no other businesses in the area have suffered the same problems.

They have installed reinforced doors for added security and vowed not to let the criminals drive them out.

Mrs Zaid, who along with her partner won the Town Partnership’s Customer Welcome of the Year Award this year for exceptional service in, said: “It is racism - it is the only thing it can be. These attacks are really frightening but what can we do but carry on?”

Mr Shah said he travels to work every day expecting the worst.

“Every night I pray that nothing will happen to our cafe,” he said.

“Everyone we have met in the community has been so welcoming, but someone is trying to make it clear they do not want us here.

 “We are not going to go anywhere.”

The police have been approached for comment. 

For more on this story, see next week's Guardian - out Thursday