Man faces court over blaze that hit furniture store

A man appeared in court yesterday accused of starting the fire that destroyed a furniture shop in Croydon during the London riots.

Gordon Thompson, 33, is charged with two counts of arson over the fire at House of Reeves Furniture Store on 8 August.

The blaze destroyed the family business, which had stood on the same corner for more than a century, as well as a row of other shops and flats. Mr Thompson, of Waddon Road in Croydon, was also charged with two counts of burglary and violent disorder in Croydon town centre. Violence erupted in Croydon on Monday last week following two nights of trouble in other parts of London.