THE top brass at Nando s have acted to calm fears that the restaurant will ruin the character of a Stoke Newington street as hundreds of people sign up to a mass boycott...

THE top brass at Nando's have acted to calm fears that the restaurant will ruin the character of a Stoke Newington street as hundreds of people sign up to a mass boycott.

More than 500 people have now threatened to steer clear of the global chicken chain when it opens in Stoke Newington Church Street.

However, Marcel Khan, the managing director of Nando's North London, denies that the fast-food restaurant will ruin the character of the area.

Mr Khan says the design of the restaurant's facade and the interior will fit in with the character of the street.

He has been surprised by the strength of feeling in Stoke Newington Church Street.

"These people really care about their community and I can't see that as a bad thing," he said.

It is planned to open the restaurant in June on the site of the now-demolished Vortex Jazz Bar.

Campaigners fear the global chicken restaurant will ruin the special character of Stoke Newington Church Street.

Tony Rich, 42, of Albion Road, fears it will open the floodgates for other chains to target the street and has set up a campaign group and a website, www.boycottnandos.org.uk.