Riot police broke up an attack on a Texaco-branded site on Mare Street in Hackney last night and other petrol stations around London were forced to close as rioting intensified.

MRH Retail closed five sites as a precaution on Monday night, including its Waddon Court site in Croydon, which was one of the places worst hit by arsonists. The forecourts suffered no damage and trading was not affected.

Police used MRH’s site in Southall as a base for unrest in Ealing, West London, where violence broke out late last night.

John Lynn, managing director of MRH, told Forecourt Trader: “All our London sites are being vigilant and we have suspended petrol can sales for the time being.”