A well known shop owner spent his fiftieth birthday in hospital after a back-breaking attack during an LGBTQ march.

World of Pets owner Tom Barwick was one of a million people who hit the streets on July 7 as part of London Pride.

As he walked along Greek Street near Tottenham Court Road at around 1am the following morning, the Broadway, Debden resident heard someone shout "you f*****g p**f" before he was floored by a kick from behind.

Disorientated, Mr Barwick picked himself up and stumbled towards the Central Line as the attacker or attackers fled with his phone.

He said: "They kicked me in the back and I didn’t stand a chance.

"The adrenalin got me at first and I just wanted to get home so I got on the Central Line.

"At some point the pain really kicked in and I started screaming.

"The pain was blinding."

Passengers helped the gay single-dad off at Stratford, where he writhed around the control room floor for three hours until paramedics arrived.

Doctors at the Royal London Hospital performed a CT scan and found a burst fracture in Mr Barwick's spine.

With the shopkeeper crippled by a combination of pain, nerve damage and high doses of prescription drugs, Mr Barwick's family came to his bedside in celebration of his fiftieth birthday on July 12.

Six days later and supported by a heavy brace, he was back on his feet and out of hospital.

"I have to wear the brace for six months and I have about 70 per cent of the feeling in my right leg, but the doctors say I will recover," he added.

"It is massively surprising that things like this still happen.

"I am fifty and I have never had anything like this in my life."

Although he is confident he will recover, Mr Barwick said business is struggling at his pet-shop, which recently branched out into hydroponics and specialist pet care in a bid to compete with Pets at Home at the Epping Forest Shopping Park.

He added: "It is hurting business because I am not down there in the shop and I am quite anxious now.

"I am not so comfortable going out on my own."

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said the incident was being treated as a hate crime because of the language used during the assault.

They added: "Detectives have carried out extensive CCTV enquiries to identify the suspect(s).

"They would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the assault which happened following Pride in London. The area would have been busy at the time. Officers would also like to speak with anyone who helped him off the tube at Stratford.

"Anyone with information is asked to contact the Community Safety Unit at Westminster via 101.

"Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

"There have been no arrests."