Hefty repair costs and a downturn in trade are still stinging a city Indian takeaway after an arson attack last month.

Bombay Spice in St Augustines Street saw a blaze rip through its premises in April, with thugs smashing windows, damaging water pipes and trashing documents as they caused £20,000 worth of damage.

Bosses at the restaurant say the incident has continued to burn financially ever since with many customers thinking it was closed and repairs to the Grade II-listed building costing a fortune.

Norwich Evening News: Damage to a window at the takeaway following the attackDamage to a window at the takeaway following the attack (Image: Newsquest)

Owner and chef, Kalam Miah, 53, said: "We reopened the day after it happened, but we were dead for at least two weeks because people thought we were closed.

"I think we had just four orders that day, we didn't even make £60.

"Then for the next two weeks, the most we made was £300.

"It's now starting to pick up again though, I think people are realising we're open.

Norwich Evening News: The building's interior was ransacked during the midnight raidThe building's interior was ransacked during the midnight raid (Image: Submitted)

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"Repairs are still costing us though, because we're a Grade II-listed building we have to make everything the same as it was so it's so expensive.

"The whole thing has been a massive headache."

Mr Miah says he and his family, who have been running restaurants in the city for more than 40 years, were lucky they were awake or he believes they could have died as the flames grew higher.

Norwich Evening News: Files were trashed during the attackFiles were trashed during the attack (Image: Bombay Spice)

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He added: "We were lucky we were all awake because of Ramadan, if not I think we would have been dead.

"I don't really understand how no one called the police or fire when it was happening, because surely people would have seen and heard it."

Mr Miah is still offering a £1,000 reward to anyone with information which leads to the identification of the offenders.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Bombay Spice on 01603 632020.

All information should also be reported to PC Robert Scott at Earlham Police Station on 101.