When the work is completed it will boast the town's first security bollards to make ram-raiders think twice before targeting the shop again.

"It's left us in a mess," he said yesterday (Tuesday). "They've damaged the shop front and they've damaged the inside shop fittings.

"They've virtually vandalised the place."

More than £7,000 worth of designer wear - many damaged by glass - were recovered after the raid.

Shards of glass from the impact of the crash also tore through the fabric of clothes left behind in the Princess Street store.

Dummies were strewn across the shop and fittings knocked over in last Wednesday's midnight raid.

When police arrived on the scene they found debris and glass spread over the street.

"We're looking at another two weeks before we can get on our feet again," said Mr Izadifar.

Assessors have yet to put a price on the damage, but Mr Izadifar said it was likely to cost more than the value of the stolen clothes.

The luxury clothes shop - one of Knutsford's retailing success stories - is still trading behind boards.

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