Petrol-bombed pet-shop owners vows to reopen

Meanwhile, he can't bear to go near the shell of his Sackville Road pet food shop, gutted in an early-morning attack last week which also destroyed the neighbouring premises.

Mr Soulsby said: "It affects me too much. It's been a tremendous shock. It is difficult to know of anyone who would do this to you. You just have no idea that it could happen."

On Tuesday, Mr Soulsby and his wife issued a statement: "George and Carol would like to express their thanks and enormous gratitude to everybody for their kind thoughts, good wishes, flowers and offers of help.

"It has helped enormously in these troubled times and thank you all so very much.

"Happy Christmas to you all."

Rother council's building inspection department declared the building unsafe immediately after the fire.

Mr Soulsby said: "My landlord had it boarded up because it's so unsafe. I went down with my insurance assessor but we were unable to get in. I understand the police have been unable to get in."

Asked if any animal rights group had claimed responsibility, Mr Soulsby said: "No. Nothing. I have never kept any animals in the shop."

The shop was noted for its light-hearted notice board outside advertising its wares, including pig's ears sold as pet food - "left or right."

Could this have angered an animal rights group?

The dog-lover replied: "You don't know, of course. But it was only a bit of humour as far as I was concerned. People used to come in and pass comments about it and laugh...."