THREE months on from the riots and the nightmare shows no sign of ending for a trader whose livelihood was destroyed by thugs.

Zakar Hussain has battled with his insurance company, a council, and even a glazing company supposed to be helping repair the windows of his business - The Green Mango Cafe, in Ealing Green.

The 35-year-old's pride and joy became the second worst damaged business in the borough after the chaos on August 8. It was flooded by the gallons of water used to extingusish the burning Ealing Green Local Supermarket next door, causing £100,000 of damage.

But rather than helping rebuild his life, his insurance brokers Simply Business argued about how much they should pay until finally backing down a fortnight ago.

Mr Hussain said: "I didn't expect all this aggro, I expected to make a call and have it taken care of. I was paying them every month after all. I've had a lot of sleepless nights."

The brokers did not have up-to-date records of investments such as new machinery, creating a £50,000 shortfall. Even now, nothing has been sent in writing.

Mr Hussain added: "There's no urgency and meanwhile my life is still at a standstill. People are asking me when I'm going to reopen and I haven't got an answer."

If that fight was not enough, Easy Glazing are hounding Mr Hussain for nearly £400 for work he ordered before the riots.

He said: "I needed three cracked panels replaced but then the riots happened. I said not to bother and I'd call them when I was ready to get everything repaired.

"They still went away and cut the glass and have charged me for it. They're threatening to take me to court and making my life a living misery."

When the belegured businessman asked for a suspension of his council tax in Slough, where he lives. The local authority refused and threatened him with court action to ensure he paid up.

Mr Hussain said: "Every day for me has been an uphill struggle."

But it was not all bad news. Ealing Council provided a £20,000 loan among other support and he secured a total of £5,000 from the High Street and Capital funds.

The community rallied to help out, including moving all his salvagable equipment into storage provided by the council and art group OPEN Ealing painted a mural to brighten up the front of his boarded-up cafe.

Mr Hussain said "I can't praise the council enough and the community has been great."

Alissa Vanbrunt, Head of claims management at Simply Business, said they had made an advance payment to Mr Hussain, would pay Mr Hussain's claim in full and have expediated riot cases, some of which are very complex.

She added: "We're very sorry that Mr Hussain feels his claim hasn't been dealt with to his satisfaction."

Michael Montrose of Easy Glazing said because the bulk of the cost had already been covered by the insurers, an automatic request was sent to the debt collection department to make sure Mr Hussain paid the remainder.

He said: "That was an oversight and shouldn't have happened. We have now waived the excess and VAT and apologise if Mr Hussain feels we have hassled him."

Slough Council declined to comment.