Thousands gathered in Walthamstow for a counter-protest last night, while shops in Lewisham and North Finchley closed early as a precaution against potential riots and planned disorder.

Here's a summary of what happened at potential riot hotspots across London.

How it started

Following the Southport stabbings where three children died, the nation has seen a wave of disorder and some riots across the UK, including Birmingham, Manchester and Cardiff.

On Wednesday (August 8), police were braced for further unrest, as forces were prepared to respond to more than 100 possible gatherings around the country, including London.

The possible protest gatherings in London were reported to be in Brentford, Croydon, Harrow, Lewisham, North Finchley and Walthamstow.

Early closure of shops

Businesses in areas listed as possible targets said they felt “apprehensive” about the planned disorder on Wednesday evening and took precautions including removing valuables from their shops and closing early.

In North Finchley, workers were seen boarding up shops while local restaurants had their shutters down on Wednesday afternoon while police patrolled the area.

Orange posters bearing the words “refugees welcome” were also seen around the high street.

A manager at a school uniform shop in north London, who wished to remain anonymous, said on Wednesday morning that the expected riots were having an impact on her business during its “busiest time of the year”.

“Today, normally we are busy, but the streets are quite quiet,” she said.

Asked how she felt regarding the current threats, she said: “I feel apprehensive really – a bit frightening, not experienced anything like this before.

“All the businesses in this street – it’s so quiet, there’s hardly anyone walking in the street at the moment.”

Estate agents in Walthamstow, east London, closed high street offices on Wednesday with staff being told to work from home, while the Nags Head pub nearby informed customers via social media they would be shut that day because of a “potential protest” to “ensure safety” of customers and employees.

Market traders across Lewisham were also told by the council to close earlier than usual, ahead of the potential protests.

Police given extra powers

The Metropolitan Police authorised a Section 60 order until the early hours of this morning (Thursday) in Croydon, Harrow and Hillingdon and Waltham Forest.

The order allows police to stop and search people without suspicion in a certain area.

The wards covered by the order in Waltham Forest included Higham Hill, St James, High Street, William Morris, Hoe Street and, Grove Green, while the Harrow Section 60 was across Rayners Lane, North Harrow, West Harrow, and Harrow on the Hill.

Support from the community

During the afternoon, Croydon Council urged members of the public to stay “alert and vigilant”, while police in Lewisham alerted the public that they were “aware of plans” circulating on social media for events in Lewisham.

Stand Up to Racism planned a counter-protest at locations across London, including Waltham Forest, where thousands of peaceful anti-racism demonstrations appeared to quash fears of further violent disorder on Wednesday night despite the threat of more than 100 planned protests.

Demonstrators at an anti-racism protest in Walthamstow, London (Image: PA Wire)

Locals in Hackney also took to the streets as part of the Stand Up To Racism counter-protest, where dozens of people joined with signs that said “refugees welcome”.

Croydon Labour condemned the actions of “a hateful minority” through a statement which described some actions as "far-right thuggery.”

The ‘riots’

In the majority of protest locations, counter protesters appeared to be the only ones present.

Towards the late evening, the Mayor of Lewisham, Brenda Dacres, confirmed that there was no intelligence of any planned far-right activity in Lewisham.

Instead, a rally was organised in Lewisham by anti-racist groups to “show solidarity” with communities targeted by the far right.

Mayor of Lewisham Brenda Dacres said: “Our whole community here in Lewisham has been disturbed and distressed by racist, far-right activity over the last week.”

Despite many forces facing very little trouble, the Metropolitan Police said about 50 people gathered in North End Road, Croydon, south London, and had “made clear their intention is to cause disruption & fuel disorder”.

The force said those present in Croydon had dragged and thrown objects down the road and thrown bottles at officers – with eight people being arrested for “assaulting emergency workers, possession of offensive weapons and other offences”.

A police statement said: “This is not linked to protest; this appears to be pure anti-social behaviour.”

10 people have subsequently been arrested.

Further planned far-right activity

Planned far-right disorder across the capital has so far largely failed to materialise – but can Londoners expect to see unrest in the days ahead?

So far there is no indication that any far-right action is planned to take place in London in the coming days.

A ‘stop the far right’ protest organised by Stand up to Racism is nevertheless planned for outside Reform UK’s HQ in Victoria Street, central London on Saturday (August 10).