Clean-up begins in riot-hit cities

The riots which have broken out across London and other cities in the UK have caused "tens of millions of pounds" of damage, experts said today.

A massive clean-up operation is getting under way in affected areas, but the Association of British Insurers said the total cost could run into the tens of millions.

Councils and residents in areas where some of the worst disorder occurred yesterday and overnight have already started sending teams out to begin what is likely to be a lengthy clean-up operation.

A spokeswoman for Hackney Council in north London said it had sent teams out "as soon as it was safe".

Users of Twitter and Facebook are using the social networking sites, which police said were also utilised by the rioters to organise their looting and civil disobedience, to arrange mass street clean-up operations across London and in other cities affected, including Bristol.

An account on Twitter called @riotcleanup attracted more than 18,000 followers in a matter of hours today and was helping people to co-ordinate their efforts. Others were using the hashtag #riotscleanup to arrange to meet up and help clear areas around their homes.

Some members of the community arrived in Peckham High Street armed with cleaning equipment to help restore order in the aftermath of the riots.

About 20 people with dustpans and brushes offered small businesses help cleaning up their destroyed stores.

One woman aged in her 20s said: "I was devastated when I saw what happened last night.

"I was really angry so I thought I'd channel my anger in a constructive way.

"We have never met each other before, we just spoke on Twitter this morning. Twitter can be used for good."

In Enfield, north London, council street cleaners cleared away debris to allow the area's one-way system to reopen.

Councillor Chris Bond said they were determined to "not surrender the streets to criminals".

"Our street workers have done a marvellous job in clearing away debris last night to ensue Enfield town is open for business," he said.

"This shows we will not let these criminals beat us. We will not surrender our streets to these mindless morons."