THE windows of a new Hereford shop have been smashed just days after the store opened.

Hereford Music Shop opened its doors to the public on Saturday but vandals struck on Monday night.

The shop on Commercial Road was formerly owned by Nicholas Fisher, who faces a trial in November over allegations of sexual assault.

New owner Rob Symonds bought the shop in June and has spent more than a month refurbishing the site before the opening.

“It’s hard not to put the two together and you never know some vandals might just be breaking windows," said Mr Symonds. “What we don’t want is people thinking this premises is anything to do with an ongoing investigation.”

“We'd rather not have to suffer the breaking of the premises because somebody thinks it's the same business.”

Mr Symonds has taken on the music school which has 10 teachers.

“We have tried to do this for all the nice reasons and have put a lot of money into it,” added Mr Symonds.