The owner of a 144-year-old family business destroyed during the riots, met with a convicted looter as part of a documentary.

The nation watched in horror as Reeves Furniture store was targeted by rioters on August 8.

After watching his store go up in flames, owner Maurice Reeves filmed a documentary looking at the impact of the Croydon riots.

The sees the 81-year-old meet an 18-year-old, convicted of looting a corner shop in Sutton.

Mr Reeves said: "The guy I met who was convicted of looting, he was very apologetic.

"He realised his actions were wrong and I gave him great credit for meeting me, I thought it was quite a brave thing to do.

"A lot of these people didn't know what is right and wrong, they are so cross with society and so cross with people, they don't care about right and wrong."

The documentary films Mr Reeves in the weeks following the riots, as he meets with other victims, including mum-of-one Charlene Munroe, whose flat on London Road, caught fire.

The programme also sees Mr Reeves question whether he should open another shop on the site of the original store in Reeves Corner.

He said: "It is criminal what happened and I cant describe how hard it has been for us. but we'll fight on.

"The support hasn't stopped at all, it's amazing. People are coming in with small donations and big donations, there is more good than bad really in Croydon."

Speaking on why he did the documentary, Mr Reeves said: "I was very cross with things, it had a great affect on me and my family and I thought it would be wise to try and find out all the facts and figures.

The programme will be broadcast on BBC One at 10.45pm on Thursday, December 15.