A York man has said he will never shop at B&Q again after a routine shopping trip ended with his being attacked with a heavy toolbox - by a store detective.

Damian Clark, of Huntington, has had to seek hospital treatment since the incident, which he described as "shocking".

And he said he is "disgusted" by the police decision to issue the worker with a formal caution.

The attack took place last Wednesday, when Mr Clark was shopping in the B&Q superstore, off Hull Road.

Mr Clark was visiting the store with a friend who is a regular customer of B&Q, having spent thousands of pounds there while renovating his house.

The two men quickly noticed someone watching them.

Mr Clark said: "I thought he was a store detective, as he wasn't being subtle at all about.

"He followed us for about ten minutes, so we went into the yard to get away from him, but we were followed by a security guard and another worker.

"By this time, Georgie had picked up the plane he wanted and I said 'Let's go home'. Before we could, though, the employee ran over and said, 'Get out, I don't trust you'.

"He grabbed our arms and tried to march us out."

The two tried to leave, but before they could the attack took place.

Mr Clark said: "I saw him lunge out of the corner of my eye, and I felt something hard smash me in the back. I couldn't believe it when I turned round and saw I had been hit by a toolbox.

"I think it is terrible what he has done. Someone who commits unprovoked assaults shouldn't be doing that sort of job - and I think a caution is a pathetic punishment."

Jin Kaur, B&Q spokesperson, said the employee had left the company.

When asked about compensation for Mr Clark, she said: "Any communication will be made between solicitors."

She then declined to comment any further, saying the matter was under internal investigation.

A police spokesman said the caution was issued in accordance with normal procedure for the situation.

"It would not be appropriate to comment further," the spokesman said.

Updated: 10:33 Monday, January 22, 2001