Cameron meets victims of Tottenham riots

British Prime Minister David Cameron visited riot-hit Tottenham today to talk to people affected by the disturbances which sparked violence around Britain.

He toured a leisure centre being used to provide food and clothing for up to 200 people made homeless by the fires which swept the area and went to the fire station to discuss challenges the emergency services had faced and any lessons that could be learned.

He was also holding private talks with people whose homes had been destroyed.

Mr Cameron told local emergency services chiefs gathered at the fire station: ``I wanted to hear first-hand about some of the things you experienced, and some of the things we need to learn from it.

“It was an incredibly challenging situation, perhaps particularly here in Tottenham.

“I’ve been all over the country hearing about what happened, but this is where things started.

“It was complicated and made difficult by the tragic killing of Mark Duggan - it’s been a difficult situation.”

He went on: “There is a major effort at rebuilding going on.

“I’ve been to the leisure centre, and seen the community come together with great co-ordination. We can rebuild all over again.”

There was no access for the press to his talks with some of the 50 families made homeless by the rioting, when flats were burned during attacks on shops.