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An Italian antiques dealer has told of his shock after homophobic graffiti was scrawled on his shop and his nation’s flag was burnt.

Abuse was scrawled on the wall outside Gianfranco Serra’s shop Out of the Attic, in Blackstock Road, Highbury.

Mr Serra, who moved his shop to the area from Camden Passage six years ago, said he was now taking extra security measures for fear of what might happen next.

“I have been in this country 35 years and I have never had a problem like this. It is really disappointing,” he said.

An Italian flag, which had been set alight, was left outside the shop.

Mr Serra believes he may know who is behind last weekend’s attack but does not want police to investigate further the hate crime.

Instead, he hopes publicity will put an end to it.

“People are free to think whatever they like, just as I am, but they can keep their views to themselves,” Mr Serra said.

“If I am gay it is my own business – I don’t have flags hanging outside. This is my shop and my private life is somewhere else.”

Mr Serra said he felt Highbury had always been a friendly area, but he had also been aware of bigoted views from time to time.

“In times of economic crisis when bad things are happening, people have to find an excuse for their anger,” Mr Serra said. “But these kinds of incidents should in the past.

“London is a cosmopolitan city. This kind of attitude has to be stopped as soon as possible.”

His shop sells lighting, furniture and antiques from the 18th to the 20th century.

A Met Police spokesman said: “Police are investigating an allegation of criminal damage to a shop in Blackstock Road.

“Graffiti was written on the exterior walls on two occasions. The first was noticed on the morning of May 29, the second on the afternoon of May 30.

“There has been no arrest at this stage.”