A 4ft-tall box containing equipment for high-speed internet access installed in a shopping street is damaging business, it is claimed.

Ash Chikhlia, co-owner of car parts retailer Aashish Motors in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, says the large British Telecom box blocks the view of his display window, which he has recently spent £500 on to attract cutomers.

There is currently no legal obligation on companies such as BT to consult on the installation of such boxes if it covers a total area less than 2.5 cubic metres.

But BT said councils were informed and Mr Chikhilia insisted people affected should be notified and given an opportunity to express a view.

"It’s so hard to survive on the high street and they do this," he said.

"We weren’t even aware. A man turned up one day and installed the box.

Mr Chikhlia also claims the box deters disabled people using the section of road adjacent to the box to park when they visit a nearby chemist and doctor's surgery. 

A BT spokeswoman said: "A great deal of thought and work goes into deciding where to site a particular cabinet, such as the location of other underground equipment, other utility cabling and the local surroundings."

A council spokesman said there are generous permitted development allowances for telecommunications works, which have been recently relaxed further by the Government as part of their programme of delivering super-fast broadband.