A video has been released showing Sutton police's borough commander leading officers in a baton charge to disperse potential rioters.

Detective chief superintendent Guy Ferguson charged with about 20 of his officers on a group of about 50 youths who were pelting them with missiles and threatening violence in Sutton High Street.

The charge, when officers were not using riot helmets or shields, happened at about 10pm on Monday night, when looting and rioting was going on in pockets of London.

Det Ch Supt Ferguson, said: "We decided to act before things got out of control. We had intelligence there could be more people coming down, and we needed to put a lid on a situation that could have turned very nasty.

"When we did get the disorder we got straight into them.

"It was robust policing which worked. The youths that were causing trouble all broke up and fled.

"I just want to say how proud I am of all the officers who showed immense bravery. Some of the officers were special constables who had never been in a public disoirder situation before."

Mark Dolce, a sergeant on the Safer Parks Team, said: "The officers advanced with batons down, but were still being attacked.

"Then the officers bravely ran straight in to the hail of bottles."

The officers continued to patrol the area that night, dealing with pockets of sporadic disorder including yobs attacking attacking a bus with bottles, and an attempted break-in at Matalan.

Det Ch Supt Ferguson also carried out two arrests. He rugby-tackled a troublemaker suspected of smashing in the window of HMV, and arrested a man suspected of coordinating bringing criminals and looters into the area.

A number of arrests have taken place in Sutton relating to the London riots. The 30 cells at Sutton Police station were almost always full from Monday night until Thursday morning.