The creator of an antisemitic sign has said it was "art" after a Jewish neighbourhood watch group reported the road sign which appears to warn "beware of Jews" to the police.

The sign, which appears to depict the silhouette of an orthodox Jewish man wearing a traditional Fedora hat, was found just 200 yards from a nearby synagogue in Stamford Hill, north London, on Tuesday.

Freelance photographer Franck Allais apologised for his creation, claiming the red, triangular sign depicting the silhouette of a Jewish man was not meant to cause offence.

It was spotted by a member of a local Jewish neighbourhood group, Shomrim N E London, which then reported it to Hackney Police.

Diane Abbott, shadow home secretary and MP for Hackney North, denounced the sign as "disgusting" and "unacceptable".