A Pride group in Forest Gate has reacted after murals were vandalised in a spate of homophobic hate crimes. 

The Metropolitan Police are investigating the incidents after three pride and progress flags were painted and graffitied over outside Forest Gate Station. 

There are three flags outside Forest Gate station - an LGBTQI flag, Progress flag, and a flag dedicated to the transgender community. There are three flags outside Forest Gate station - an LGBTQI flag, Progress flag, and a flag dedicated to the transgender community. (Image: Forest Gayte Pride) The first mural vandalised was reported on the morning of June 23, when a member of public noticed the pride flag was completely covered in red paint. 

Just a few days later on June 26, a second report was filed alerting the police to two other vandal attacks. 

Each flag has been painted over with red, in what the Met are treating as homophobically charged incidentsEach flag has been painted over with red, in what the Met are treating as homophobically charged incidents (Image: Forest Gayte Pride) This is not the first occasion that the permanent flags, installed by Forest Gayte Pride, have been defaced. 

Over the past two years, all three flags outside the station have been defaced.

In March this year, one flag was vandalised, appearing to suggest that people who identify as part of the LGBTQI community should drink toilet water. 

The group have had to deal with and report several incidents to the policeThe group have had to deal with and report several incidents to the police (Image: Forest Gayte Pride) Caron Harrison, co-founder of Forest Gayte Pride, said: "Sadly, it is not the first incident. 

"The progress flag was completely painted out in red paint. It was very neat work, wasn't splashes anywhere and it just obliterated the whole flag. 

"By Tuesday morning, the other two flags had got red paint all over them as well."

London Pride is set to start on June 29London Pride is set to start on June 29 (Image: Forest Gayte Pride) The community is said to be feeling a mixture of emotions in the wake of the incidents that the Met are treating as homophobically motivated. 

Caron added: "Some people are feeling intimidated, and some people are appalled and really angry. People come to our pride knowing it's a safe place. 

"You can paint out our flags but you can't paint out our pride. We're really fighting against it."

The shocking vandalisms have sparked response from Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz in the days leading up to London Pride (June 29). 

There have been no arrests made so far, but it is believed that the Met are reviewing CCTV footage from the area on the dates the flags were defaced. 

RELATED: Pride flags vandalised with red paint outside train station

Andrew Driver, a resident in Forest Gate, spoke with this paper about how he believes the incidents have strengthened the community.

He said: "It has galvanised and really brought people together. It's sort of supercharged actually the Pride movement in Forest Gate. 

The flags have had to be restored on several occasions as a resultThe flags have had to be restored on several occasions as a result (Image: Forest Gayte Pride) "Although it's shocking and I'm pretty sure we will find the culprit, I think it's been bizarrely quite a positive experience."

Anyone with information can contact police by calling 101 or visiting, quoting reference 2433/23Jun.