A fund offering emergency help to small businesses affected by this month's riots has been launched. The £3m raised so far by the High Street Fund has come from the Mayor of London and a number of large firms including Barclays, BP and Lloyds. It will start taking claims from Friday 26 August.

This initiative is in addition to the government's £20m High Street Support Scheme, which will be distributed by councils. Its main aim is to provide short-term help to try to keep firms trading while they wait for insurance payouts or other funding to come through. It expects to make initial grants of up to £2000 "within a matter of days". Further payments of similar amounts could be made if necessary.

Sir William Castell, chairman of the Wellcome Trust, who is heading the fund said: "Everyone was shocked at the damage caused by the riots, and for numerous small businesses the hardship is......Read more on this story---> Click HERE