Business cries foul as poo hits the fan — and shutters

POLICE horses are causing a stink at a Sunderland business after leaving a unique calling card on SAFC match days.

Staff at Dave Robson Glaziers on Sheepfolds Industrial Estate have been left fuming after the animals left manure on the company’s shutters. The mounted police section stand in front of the Stobart Street business on match days as part of crowd control measures.

But while business partner Gary Appleton says he is happy to help the officers, the mess is becoming a bit too much.

“I’m sick of it. The police have said they will clean it up, but they haven’t. I don’t see why I should spend an hour cleaning it up,” he said. “They wouldn’t like it if I shovelled it up and put it outside Gill Bridge police station.”

He added: “We try to help the police as much as we can by shutting early on Saturdays when there is a match, which is one of our best trading days, and we just want them to show us some consideration back.

“When it’s on the road, it is just left, but this is actually on our shutters and we have to use another entrance until we can clean it up.”

Mr Appleton says it has happened about four times now and that it was particularly bad after Wednesday night’s Carling Cup clash with Blackburn Rovers.

“My main gripe is that if this was dogs fouling, police would be giving out a fine,” said Mr Appleton.