The owner of House of Reeves has slammed vandals who have damaged the hoardings around the old shop.

At the beginning of the year, hoardings which displaying a gallery of images were put up around the site of the old store, which was destroyed during the riots.

On Wednesday morning, Trevor Reeves, director at the store arrived to see the hoardings had been damaged.

Mr Reeves said: "Fire, theft, burglary and vandalism, I just don't understand it. We need to change something in our society and quickly."

Police visited the store yesterday afternoon and are investigating.

A spokesman said: "I can confirm we have received a report of criminal damage to a premises at Reeves Corner. Officers are investigating."

The 150-year-old furniture store was destroyed during the riots after Gordon Thompson set fire to a sofa, leaving the building, which has survived two World Wars, charred timbers and rubble.

Thompson, 33, is looking at a lengthy custodial sentence after changing his plea to guilty at his trial for arson at the Old Bailey last month.

He will be sentenced on April 11.