Riot-affected shops still waiting for compensation from the government will get their money according to the Deputy Prime Minister.

Nick Clegg MP visited the site of the House of Reeves furniture store, which was burnt to the ground on August 8.

While the Reeves family has been able to reopen the adjacent store, many London Road traders whose stores were ransacked by looters are still waiting for money from the Riot Damages Act.

Mr Clegg admitted the system had received complaints but said work was being done to make sure businesses would get their cash and begin to get back on their feet.

He said: “I think what everybody wants is for the community to move forward and for businesses to thrive again.

“This is not the first time I have heard this [complaints about compensation].

“The panel I set up to provide advice on what the community feels about the events of last summer has also identified question marks about this very old act.

“We are putting all our effort to make sure local government departments are working quickly.

“But if individual shops are affected then of course we should work together to give them the payments they deserve.”

During his tour of the store with owner Maurice Reeves, Mr Clegg was quizzed by community leaders Pat Reid and Tony Harrison, who worked with Mr Reeves on the BBC Up In Flames documentary.

The pair, who work with children in deprived areas, said more needed to be done to stop reoffending and to prevent those at risk of offending entering a life of crime.

Mr Reid said: “We need to see more action.

“What they have been doing for the last 20 or 30 years hasn’t worked.

“There needs to be more done at grass roots - we are the ones dealing with the kids.

“Everyone is talking about justice and sentences because of what they have done but what happens when they come out?

“Funds are being cut and there is less money available to support them.”