Firefighters from Havering were amongst those called to Tottenham to tackle the blazes caused by the riots over the weekend.

Around ten firefighters from Romford and Harold Hill fire stations attended the fires in Tottenham on Saturday August 6,

The riots saw buildings including an Aldi store and a Carpet Right store set alight, as well as a double decker bus and a police car.

Firefighter Peter Chirgwin said: “It was horrendous.

“We were mainly putting out the fire in the High Road, but it was just surreal and something that you would never expect to happen.”

The riots started after people took to the streets on Saturday night to protest after Mark Duggan, 29 was shot by the police on Thursday.

Shop windows were smashed, a police car and van was burned out and people began breaking into stores.

The London Fire Brigade received a total of 264 999 calls between 9.30 on Saturday night and 4.30 on Sunday morning and attended 49 primary fires in the Tottenham area.

Chairman and Leader of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Cllr Brian Coleman, said: “I would like to pay tribute to those firefighters who worked tirelessly in such difficult and dangerous conditions.

“It is simply unacceptable that fire crews were threatened when they were trying to help protect local people. This mindless violence against firefighters has to stop.”