A CAMPAIGNING cobbler said he will barricade himself in his shop after he was ordered to leave for rent arrears.

For more than five years, Tony Martin has used the window of his premises in Claypath, Durham, to criticise the local authority.

Mr Martin, who took over the business from his father, has attracted national publicity in print and on television, and is publishing a book called Cobblers to the Council.

Now his landlord, the Durham Diocesan Board of Finance, has ordered him to leave, bringing 150 years of cobbling to an end. It said he had run-up "persistent" rent arrears.

But Mr Martin does not plan to go quietly when the deadline arrives tomorrow.

Mr Martin, who said he was given a week's notice, said he will barricade himself inside the shop unless he is given until the end of the month to leave.

He said he was unsure how much he owed. "I would say about £20,000 but they have never tried to retrieve it," he said.

"My idea was to release the book to pay the debt to keep the shop open.

"I have asked them to give me until March 28 so I can get the book out, but so far there has been no response.

"If they come to get me out, I will barricade myself in. People have offered to supply me with beer and bacon sandwiches.

"I need to be able to let everyone know I am closing.''

Jonathan Cryer, secretary of the Diocesan Board, said: "There is a very considerable quantity of arrears outstanding in rent. We will follow the legal process we need to follow if he doesn't accept the consequences of the notice.''