Wolverhampton riots, five years on: A day of violence that will live in infamy

Starting in Tottenham, like wildfire it spread across cities and towns including Bristol, Birmingham, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton.

In Wolverhampton the chaos started after 4pm, a violent mob descended on the city centre, leaving a trail of trashed shops and blazing vehicles. Innocent bystanders sought shelter in Wolverhampton's pubs and fled for safety as the rioters hurled missiles and looted shops.

Meanwhile, less than 10 miles away in West Bromwich, a violent mob ripped bricks off walls and torched a catering van.

And in the weeks and months that followed thousands of people were convicted, with more than 300 defendants appearing before the courts in the West Midlands.

In contrast to riots previously witnessed in England – such as the notorious 1981 Handsworth riots – the turmoil in 2011 was organised, at least in part, via social media.

Hooded youths descended on Wolverhampton, with the first sign of trouble coming when dozens of shoppers were locked inside the Asda supermarket near Molineux after a gang gathered in the car park at around 3pm. Shortly after there were reports of missiles being fired at Staveley Police Station in Whitmore Reans.

The focus of the trouble soon switched to the city centre with an unknown explosive released in Queen Square at around 4.30pm.

By then around 300 youths had gathered near the Prince Albert statue, where they confronted police.

Following the explosion, dozens of the rioters fled down Dudley Street, vandalising shops including Burton's menswear, T Mobile, Next and Marks & Spencer.

Other splinter groups formed in Princess Street, Wheeler's Fold, Wulfruna Street and King Street and hurled bottles at police officers who were wielding riot shields. In Lichfield Street, shoppers waiting for buses sought shelter in the Lady Wulfrun pub as another group threw missiles including bricks, bottles and stones.

Businesses and shops in Queen Street and Market Street suffered some of the worst damage. Windows were smashed and shutters torn. The shops were ransacked.

Digitech mobile phone shop, Zhapp clothing and EV Beckett jewellers were all devastated. A lasting image of the day has come to be that of Louise Johnson, standing with arms outstretched, protecting her Queen Street hair salon from the gang.

Her bold stance meant her salon came out unscathed. It was a show of defiance and order on a day otherwise characterised by bedlam.

Speaking to the Express & Star five years on, she said: "I just remember thinking it was chaotic. I didn't want to leave the shop. I could see what they were doing further up the road in town. I thought, there is no way I am letting them destroy what I have worked hard for for two years.

"When I stood there they thought I was mad. But they listened. There was one little boy who said 'oh my God. She does my nan's hair,' and he turned back." Later in the evening, the violence moved into Broad Street. Large amounts of computer equipment was taken from Sumitek.com, with one yob carrying away a large plasma screen TV which he could barely hold.

When police arrived they sent the gangs scrambling towards the ring road and out of the city centre, signalling a shift in the balance of power as officers gradually seized control of the situation.

The community rallied to help clean up the streets, but for some of those affected it has taken until now to fully recover.

Management at Zhapp clothing, which still trades in Queen Street, said: "We were one of the first shops in the city which was targeted and the whole place was trashed. It has taken us five years to get back to an adequate level. Effectively we had to start the business from scratch. Unfortunately it is something in your head all of the time. It only takes something to kick off in the news and you could have the situation again. It is opportunistic. You are forever on edge and it is not a comfortable environment."

In West Bromwich the scenes of destruction were perhaps even more dramatic than they had been in Wolverhampton.

As in the neighbouring city, rumours of the pending trouble circulated via social media, prompting businesses to close their doors early. Families and shoppers abandoned the town centre. Lloyds TSB posted a sign outside stating: "Due to the country's problems we have been advised to close."

The shoppers were replaced by groups of youths, some believed to be aged as young as 11, dressed in dark hooded tops and jeans, with covered faces. Disorder erupted as around 200 thugs tore bricks out of walls near to the Desi Junction pub at the top end of the High Street, while windows at the Quicksilver Gaming Centre were smashed.

Shortly afterwards riot police were brought in and a number of road closures were put in place to contain the violence. The High Street was quickly cordoned off, and later Junction 1 of the M5 at West Bromwich.

The violence spiralled out of control as gangs pulled a Land Rover and a catering van into the centre of High Street.

In shocking scenes, hooded and masked men could be seen attempting to tip over the catering van, before it was torched. The town suffered a second wave of rioting around midnight. Looters got into Cash Converters and made off with laptops, iPads and iPhones.

Fortunately, such anarchy has not been repeated in the five years since. But the pandemonium remains vivid in the minds of shop owners in both West Bromwich and Wolverhampton. Mrs Johnson, who was later honoured for her bravery, added: "Hopefully it will not happen again. But I would stand there again, absolutely."