A fire ravaged apartment block on the High Road was among the first buildings torn down in Tottenham after it was made safe by demolition specialists as Haringey council estimated the initial damage in the area at £10m plus.

Construction kit was only allowed on the streets once the police had sealed off the area which was the ignition point on Saturday night for three nights of rioting across the capital.

Scenes of mass destruction and looting in areas like Croydon, Peckham and Clapham last night will mean further clear-ups and buildings being pulled down once the police can guarantee  the streets are safe and the fire brigade have put-out blazes.

Mansell and Mears were helping with repair work in Croydon as the council’s framework contractors.

Mansell also took the precaution of closing sites early today near trouble hotspots while ISG also shut two of its fit-out jobs in volatile areas.

Essex contractor Chigwell Construction has also set up a dedicated team of 20 emergency staff to carry out 24-hour repairs on housing stock and commercial properties damaged during the riots.