Leanne Scoones, 22, from New Addington, lost her flat above the Co-op on Central Parade after it was set on fire by mindless rioters.

She said life after the riots would have been even tougher for her family if it wasn’t for the help of the local community.

She said: "There's a group called New Addington Pathfinders, who stood outside Iceland raising money for those who lived above the co-op who had lost their homes and possessions.

"I am truly grateful to this group and the people they raised money for as the other people that were in line to receive money from Pathfinders gave their share to our little family to help us replace our things. I just want to say a very big thank you to those who donated and gave their best wishes, it was very much appreciated.

"I don't believe that everyone was punished enough for what they did. Some people were serving a day or got a fine for the damage they caused.

"I don't believe the people that took part in the riots realise how serious things could have got. "When I used to walk past the parade a couple days after the fire, I heard people saying "oh well, it's just a shop, no harm has come of it.

"I don't feel like they noticed the homes or the people that live above it. I'm just grateful that my family got out before anything actually started up there."