He was born in Cable Street, but this week's riots and the destruction of his tiny barber's shop has devastated 89-year-old Aaron Biber.

The inside of Mr Biber's shop on Tottenham High Road in London was wrecked by youths during Saturday night's riots.

Mr Biber, who has had the barber's for 40 years, arrived on Sunday morning. "I couldn't stand up, I was in shock," he said, still visibly shaken. "They're meshuggenahs, they stole my kettle and my hairdryer. It's mindless. I've had my window smashed before but nothing like this.

"I was born in Cable Street, in the East End, one of 16 children. That was a real mix of people, but we never had trouble like this."

Mr Biber has no insurance. Now living in Chingford, he said he had always felt safe in Tottenham before the rioting, but had no intention of stopping cutting hair now: "I don't do much business now, I just keep coming here for the conversation, really."

Sitting in his barber's chair, he cuts open his mail, finding a handwritten letter. "Fancy that! Someone's sent me a letter and a cheque. They don't even know me. I won't lose my faith in people. Well, in some people."