Footfall slumped in London last week as people stayed away from the high street to avoid the riots and retailers shut up shops.

Tuesday  - the day after the worst of the riots in the capital - showed the most marked decline, with footfall falling 14%, year-on-year. This compares with the UK average, which dropped 8% on the same day.

The Experian figures, which do not break down other regions, show that on Wednesday last week footfall in London dropped 9%, while falling 7% across the UK, on average.

However, the figures reflect that a level of normality was restored towards the end of the week as the worst of the riots were over, with footfall declining 2% on Thursday and 4% on Friday in the capital.

Overall, UK footfall dropped 4% last week.

Experian said: “On Thursday and Friday consumers’ confidence returned and the index shows an improvement in shopper levels.

“This week has been an enormous test of the resilience of UK shoppers. Whilst rioting has impacted shopping patterns, most markedly in the London Boroughs, consumers have been quick to get back to business as usual and appear determined not to let the recent activities stand between them and that essential purchase.”