Energy giant Shell has donated £500,000 to the High Street Fund set up to support businesses affected by the riots in August.

The company donated half a million pounds to the fund which was set up last month. The High Street Fund was set up by a coalition of businesses and London boroughs, supported by London Mayor Boris Johnson, the fund that aims to offer immediate cash support to smaller businesses affected in the riots.

With Shell’s added support over £4m has now been pledged towards the fund.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “This huge donation from Shell is a fantastic gesture and one that will go a very long way in helping businesses to get back on their feet. The High Street Fund is already helping small companies to bounce back and I strongly urge any firm that suffered damage or had stock stolen to get online and make a claim.”

The Fund aims to make it easy for businesses affected by the riots to apply for funding and to make payments swiftly. Claims will be made using a form that can be downloaded from the High Street Fund’s website –www.thehighstreetfund.co.uk