Retail footfall slumped in the capital last week as stores closed early and shoppers stayed indoors during the riots.
The latest figures from Experian show footfall fell 14% year-on-year in London last Tuesday, after a particularly devastating night of violence and looting in many areas of the city. Average footfall across the UK also fell by 8%, compared to a drop of just 1.6% on the same day last year.

On Wednesday last week, footfall declined by 9% in London, and fell by 7% across the UK, on average, against a 0.1% decline in UK footfall on the same day in 2010.

However, things picked up again by the end of the week, with footfall down 3% in London on Friday and down 4% across the country.

Overall, UK footfall dropped 4% last week year-on-year, and fell 1.6% on the week before.

The report from Experian said: "This week has been an enormous test of the resilience of UK shoppers. Whilst rioting has impacted shopping patterns, most markedly London boroughs, consumers have been quick to get back to business as usual and appear determined not to let the recent activities stand behind them and that essential purchase."

It was also a challenging week for retailers, said Experian, with many forced to close early as a result of the violence, or simply as a precaution. However, it said the week-on-week fall of 1.6% is in line with last year's trend, "as the summer holidays are now in full swing and fewer shoppers are expected."