Protests cost West End retailers more than £5m

Retailers in central London are thought to have lost more than £5m in sales because of protests and riots in the West End on Saturday. 

Mobs attacked stores including Topshop, BHS, Boots, and Anne Summers, as well as banks and fast food outlets like McDonald's during the violence that erupted after the anti-cuts march. Some protestors even broke into Fortnum & Mason luxury food store in Piccadilly, while windows were smashed at the Ritz hotel.

Sales in the West End usually exceed £30m on a Saturday but Westminster City Council says it expected takings to be down by at least £5m. The cost of repairing the damage could add to the losses.

In addition to the damage on the day there are also fears that the violence will affect the West End's reputation as a shopping destination.

The British Retail Consortium said: "Retailers need to be able to lawfully get on with their business and we are concerned, clearly, that shoppers can make the most of London's West End without feeling in any way unsafe or intimidated."

Read a full report at the Telegraph. ·