OWNERS of a family newsagents in Barry say they have been left baffled after being targeted by vandals accusing them of selling out to big business.

Selly's, on Park Crescent, was targeted twice, within a couple of hours, by vandals who spray painted anti-chain store graffiti on hoardings outside their shop.

Garry and Jackie Hughes, the husband and wife owners of Selly’s, arrived at the family-owned convenience corner store to discover the phrase "Takeover local shop?" sprayed on boards enclosing their new shop - a joint venture with One Stop, directly across the road.

The couple said they wanted to reassure local people that the 100-year-old shop - which they have owned for 15 years - is very much remaining a "local" business.

Mrs Hughes said: “We turned up at 5am and found the slogan there. The builders turned the board around but by 9.30pm they’d done it again.

"We keep telling our customers we are staying. We are a family business and we all go that extra mile. We have the biggest newspaper delivery service in the area.”

Mr Hughes added: “We aim to give the customer the friendly, personal service you don’t often get in the big supermarkets – service with a smile.”

The couple are teaming up with convenience store chain One Stop for their new venture, but said the shop will retain the Selly's name.

Mr and Mrs Hughes, who received planning permission for the new shop two years ago, said they are thrilled to be expanding and hope it will only improve the service for customers.

Mr and Mrs Hughes said that since planning for the new shop was approved two years ago, they had been informing customers that they are staying put and were thrilled at the opportunity to expand.

Mrs Hughes, 47, said: “It will be Welcome to One Stop together with Selly’s and it will be the only one in Barry with the ‘working with’ model.

"We are hoping to be open in September or early October."