Mal Hussein and his partner Linda Livingstone have made more than 4,000 complaints to police, after being shot at, petrol bombed and physically assaulted since they opened the corner shop on the Ryelands estate in Lancaster.

Mal Hussain: "A long and continuous nightmare"

Lancaster City Council had offered to buy the shop but the couple felt their offer was below the market value.

Now campaigners from the 1990 Trust are hoping to raise �120,000 by selling shares in the shop.

Organisers of the Shares In Anti-Racism scheme are appealing for donations to help to buy the business from the couple and give them a chance to start a new life.

The shop will then be converted into an anti-racism centre, with any extra money used to help victims of racist harassment and set up up local anti-racist programmes.

'Worse than prison sentence''

The plan is being highlighted on the 1990 Trust's Black Information Link website.

The site includes a statement from Mr Hussain and his wife in which they say: "We sold our homes and invested everything we had in Ryelands Mini Market. It was our dream to own our own business.

"But our dream has turned into a long and continuous nightmare.

The BBC's Mike McKay: "Promoters of the scheme want to help the couple move elsewhere"

"Our existence on Ryelands is worse than a prison sentence. We live in fear of our lives. We live like prisoners in our own home. We have lost our freedom and our rights as citizens. Mal's only crime is the colour of his skin."

Lee Jasper, director of the 1990 Trust, told BBC News Online: "It is the worst and most sustained case of racist harassment I have ever come across.

"They live as virtual prisoners in their own home and business and are unable to sell up because obviously no-one wants to buy the shop. They have endured enough."

Mr Jasper said by setting up the anti-racism centre, the couple could leave without allowing local racists to claim victory.

One petrol bomb attack on the shop was caught on film

The couple, whose plight has been highlighted in at least one TV documentary, plan to leave the area completely if the shares scheme is successful.

Mr Jasper said anyone buying shares in the shop would be kept informed about anti-racism initiatives at the new centre.

Mr Hussain has taken his case to government ministers and has received an apology from Lancashire police over their handling of his case, though they denied racism was a factor.

Officers admitted "we did not meet our own high standards, or your expectations, for dealing with incidents of this kind".

Mr Hussain has said he plans to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights after the city council was cleared in the Court of Appeal of allegations of negligence in failing to act over the race attacks.

A vigil organised by the couple's supporters is being held outside their property on Thursday night as Lancastrians celebrate the traditional "mischief night" .

The event has seen attacks on Mr Hussain in the past, involving fireworks and petrol bombs.