A shopkeeper who was punched and bottled inside his store says “aggressive” anti-social behaviour is on the rise.

Rakesh Bhimjiyani, who has worked at the family-owned Costcutter shop in Finchley Road for 36 years, claims there have been near-daily disturbances around Finchley Road & Frognal station.

Shortly after first contacting the Ham&High about the issues, the 59-year-old was attacked - suffering bruising on his back, head and hands.

The attack took place at 7.20am on April 6, when Mr Bhimjiyani rushed to the shop floor after hearing his wife being shouted at by a man.

After instructing him to leave, an argument broke out, which resulted in the man punching the shopkeeper.

“Then he threw his Prosecco bottle at me, which smashed on my back,” claimed Mr Bhimjiyani.

Police attended to take statements and view CCTV of the attack.

After they left, the suspect returned, this time armed with a cricket bat.

Mr Bhimjiyani says the man was “begging me to go outside” and fight.

Speaking at the time, Mr Bhimjiyani said it ruined plans for the Easter bank holiday weekend. He said: “It [his hand] is completely swollen, and I’m right-handed. I find it very difficult to do anything. My back is also sore and I have a small bruise around the side of my head.

“I can’t lift a thing.”

This attack came after repeated problems in the area.

He believes drug dealers, thieves and people publicly drinking are attracted to the busy road.

In other instances, he has seen people get “loud and threatening” to customers leaving his shop.

Mr Bhimjiyani says there have also been complaints about teenagers from an estate, but he says “police just seem to have their hands tied”.

He said: “These days we seem to have issues. Probably I'd say minimum once a week with somebody who I don't know, just thinks that they don't have to adhere to common rational behaviour.”

The Metropolitan Police confirmed officers were called to the shop on April 6 at 7.20am to reports of an incident at a shop.

A spokesperson said: “A man had entered the shop and caused a disturbance, which escalated with him punching the shopkeeper, shouting abuse and smashing a bottle of alcohol before leaving.”

The spokesperson added: “Officers attended and arrested the man, aged 33, nearby for racially aggravated common assault, public order offences and possession of an offensive weapon.

“He has been bailed pending further enquiries to return to police on a date in mid-May.”

There have been at least five reported crimes near that section of Finchley Road in February, according to a police crime map.

This includes two public order offences, two violence and sexual offences and one theft.

There were also two stop and searches recorded, one for offensive weapons and one for evidence of offences under the Act.

In Frognal, 26.4% of crime in the area was linked to anti-social behaviour over the last three years.

Vehicle crime was the second highest offences in the area, at 23.2%, followed by violence and sexual offences at 15.6%.