In the days after the riots residents embraced a can-do attitude to set up businesses to benefit the town.

They include Saif Bonar, who created Matthews Yard, a workspace and cafe off Surrey Street in central Croydon.

Rapidly expanding Croydon Tech City (CTC) was also born in the aftermath of the riots.

Purley resident Jonny Rose came up with the idea with Nigel Dias as the town began to recover from the looting and fires.

Since CTC was founded Croydon has become home to more than 1,000 digital, creative and software companies making it the second biggest cluster of tech businesses outside central London.

The West Croydon Carnival of Cultures started in the summer of 2012 and is now an annual event to showcase the work of businesses and residents in West Croydon, while the South End Food Festival in the newly branded Restaurant Quarter was also launched with the help of funds provided following the riots.