EALING is in shock this morning after the borough was caught up in riots that swept the Capital overnight.

Gazette reporters are on the scene and speaking to residents, shopkeepers and the authorities. We will bring you updates throughout the day.

Reporter Michael Russell was in The Broadway last night when rioters swarmed the area, attacking patrol cars and knocking him to the ground.

He said: "Police had pushed us back towards the Broadway. It was deathly quiet, like the calm before the storm. There was a patrol car on either side of the road.

"All of a sudden loads of people came running up the street. They started throwing bins and anything that could be moved. They swarmed like ants towards the patrol cars and started jumping on them.

"I went to take pictures and three guys said 'what are you doing?'. They knocked me to the ground and demanded my wallet. I didn't want to give them that so I let them take the camera. Then I legged it.

"At the time I didn't feel scared because it was adreneline, but now I do, considering they could have knives."

Ealing Council released a statement shortly after 10am today (Tuesday).

A spokesman said: "From 5.30am this morning, we have deployed 45 street cleaners, four trucks with cages and two large mechanical sweepers around the borough's trouble hot-spots. Some areas are cordoned off as crime scenes, so we can't get to them until the police give their clearance. We are also starting the operation to move burnt-out vehicles to our Greenford depot where we can."

Readers have been sending us their pictures and comments - a selection of those images are included in this article (contributed by Austin Lee). Please keep them coming .

A pensioner from Mattock Lane in Ealing, who lived through the Blitz as a child said the events in Ealing last night had reminded him of those terrible times.

He told our reporter: "All the cars had been smashed and had license plates ripped off and one was set fire to. I heard a car exploding about 12.15am.

"They must have used petrol or something because it went up with a whoosh and the flames burned for about five hours. I could hear [the culprits] laughing and shouting as they did it. We were frightened - and we've lived through the Blitz of London."

We are also receiving reports that gang markings were etched into several of the burning vehicles.

More as we get it.

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