Kent Police officers were drafted in to help bring riots in north London under control early this morning.

Petrol bombs were thrown at officers, while cars, a double decker bus, homes and businesses were set on fire in a night of violence in Tottenham.

Fourteen officers from the county were called to the disturbances at around 3am, although a spokesman for the force said they had "no major involvement" and returned to Kent a few hours later.

Shops in Tottenham High Road, as well as those at the nearby Tottenham Hale retail park, were looted by protesters, who were seen wheeling away shopping trolleys full of high-value goods.

In total, 26 police officers were injured in the violence, eight of whom required hospital treatment. None of those injured are believed to be from Kent.

The riots came two days after 29-year-old Mark Duggan was shot dead by police.

Officers had stopped a minicab in Ferry Lane, Tottenham, when shots were fired. Mr Duggan, who was a passenger in the car, died at the scene.

It is thought one policeman escaped serious injury because his radio got in the way of a bullet.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating the shooting.