Royals Visit Riot-Hit Areas Of London

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have visited areas of London to see for themselves the impact of the recent rioting.

They first visited the Tottenham Green Leisure Centre , which was transformed into an aid centre in the aftermath of the rioting, was the first of a number of visits planned across the capital.

According to Clarence House, the royal couple, who have taken time out of their break at Balmoral, "have been keen to visit areas affected by the recent street rioting and violence in England".

It is understood the total of four engagements in London had been in planning since last week, including a trip to the Prince's Trust offices in Hackney.

The visits coincided with an announcement by the Prince of Wales' charity of a "doubling of support for young people across five of the areas hardest hit by the riots".

They are Manchester, Birmingham, Hackney, Tottenham and Croydon.

The Prince of Wales has had a long standing commitment to helping young people dating back to the Trust's creation in 1976.

Since then it has helped more than 600,000 disadvantaged young people.

In an article written by the Prince of Wales in 2009, the future King wrote: "There are still far too many people for whom opportunities do not exist, people whose frustrations and energies, when not channelled at a crucial point in their lives, can so easily be directed into threatening and anti-social activities."

The Tottenham Leisure Centre is offering help for those made homeless or have suffered severe damage to their homes during the rioting.

Clothes, food, bedding, baby products, advice and counselling can be obtained from the temporary centre.