A DISGRUNTLED builder barricaded the entrance of a shop with his van in a one-man protest.

Dave Haines, of Heathvale Construction, was so incensed with CC Discount Heating in Harwich Road, Colchester he blocked the front door for more than 90 minutes.

The shop has accused Mr Haines of swearing and losing his cool over an £80 sink.

He refused to move the van until police resolved the dispute.

Mr Haines, who owns a carpentry and general building company in Iceni Way, Colchester, claims he ordered the basin from the shop for a customer, but it did not arrive in time.

When the sink did arrive, it did not fit – costing him another half-a-day’s business.

He took it back to the shop only be told he would have to pay an additional fee, which started a “heated exchange”.

He said: “It was not my fault. I lost half-a-day’s work and money and it looks poor from the perspective of the customer. They made me look like an idiot and I have lost money.

“I was getting nowhere with the sales assistant and I have had enough of people taking advantage so I thought if I was here for two hours they would not get any money as a result.”

Mr Haines parked his van at the entrance for 90 minutes from about noon on Tuesday.

Police were called and told him to move it.

But he refused until the dispute was resolved, so the officer agreed to speak to him and the owner.

In the end he agreed to pay off his account with the business, minus the money for the basin.

He said: “I got my money back, stood my ground and would do it again.”

The manager at CC Discount Heating, who said his name was Alan but would not give his surname, defended the business.

He said: “He was a very unreasonable man who swore at me. I did not like him being there but was not going to grab him and move him.

“He ordered a special article and we get a handling charge but I don’t want trouble and we have got a good name.

“He had been using us for years so I don’t know why he lost his cool now, but I don’t want any problems so we gave him his money back.”