BUSINESSES across Lewisham are counting the cost of the damage caused during the riots last night.

Rioters smashed their way into shops and other businesses – including a funeral parlour – across the borough, causing thousands of pounds of damage.

In Catford, K Rowland Ltd Optician on Lewisham High Street was ransacked, with the windows smashed and designer frames stolen.

Owner Keith Rowland said: “We shut just after 5pm and then we saw on TV that there was trouble in Lewisham, so we decided to come back to try to save our hard drive with patients records and details on.

“The place was in such a state that we thought at first that the hard drive had been stolen, but actually it had just been knocked around a bit.

“We came back again at 11.30pm to see if we could salvage anything else but the police had cordoned off the area.”

Mr Rowland, who has run the optician for 27 years, added: “All our designer frames have been taken, and we're going to need a new shop front.

“Altogether, there's around £15,000 to £20,000 damage.”

Mr Rowlands said members of the local community had come to the optician to help clean up this morning.

Other businesses on Lewisham High Street, Catford, which were raided by rioters include Tesco Express, The Funeral Centre, Blockbuster Video, Argos, 99p Stores and Coral betting shop.

In Deptford, H&T Pawnbrokers in the High Street was ransacked by looters, who struck at around 9.45pm.

They smashed through the windows and trashed glass display cases before taking a small amount of jewellery and around £250 in cash.

Chief executive John Nichols said: “Fortunately there was not too much for them to take, as we lock things away in safes. It's just the damage that's bad.”

Mr Nichols said he expects to open the shop again tomorrow morning, but added: “The worry is that the rioters come back.”

On Deptford High Street, businesses targeted by the rioters included Tesco Express, HSBC bank and William Hill betting shop.

Deptford resident Ali Hussain, 54, said: “The parents of the rioters should be paying for this. The parents should have more control over their children.

“They should make the parents answerable for what has happened.”