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Family-run business Reeves Furniture, was established in 1867 and was so famous locally that it had a tram stop named after it.


But all that has now gone and owner Maurice Reeves, 80, said he was "devastated".


The shop was destroyed as buildings and cars were set alight
on a third night of violence in London, which saw more than 200 people
arrested.


London Fire Brigade said it dealt with major blazes across the capital on a night which saw "unprecedented" events.


Mr Reeves, who runs the furniture shop with his sons Trevor,
55, and Graham 45, has seen his business experience hard times before.


"We survived World War One, the 30s depression, World War
Two, the recession in the 80s, and all that time we served the people of
Croydon.


"But in the end it was the people of Croydon, so it seems, that has finally destroyed us."


'We are fighters'
Mr Reeves was out in London celebrating his 21st wedding anniversary with his wife Anne, 72, when he heard about the trouble.



He came home to see his store up in flames.


"It was hard to describe. It was hugely upsetting and I could only think 'why?'.


"The whole family is absolutely appalled and devastated by what has happened and I don't know what's going to happen now.


"We will talk to the insurers obviously - but we will be back. We are fighters."


Some 50 firefighters tackled the blaze at Reeves Furniture
store and a woman was forced to jump from a first floor flat as the fire
from the shop spread to homes.


Walking around Croydon town centre many roads remained taped
off by police, as fire crews remain damping down two buildings hit by
Monday night's disturbances.


Shops including Argos, Maplins, Lidl and Iceland had their
windows smashed and a number of smaller shops have also been targeted.


'Mindless idiots'
The shell of a burnt-out bus and a burnt down bus shelter
remained along with a lot of confusion. Several roads are blocked off
and many buses are diverted.


One West Croydon resident, who did not want to be named,
said: "Look at Croydon, look what they have done. They just all mindless
idiots wanting to nick something.


"This has nothing to do with what happened in Tottenham. "



Sixty-six-year-old Jennifer Gray-Evans lives just behind Reeves Furniture store.


She said she could also see the burning bus from her living
room window, adding: "It was absolutely terrifying - we had the Reeves
fire on one side and the bus shelter on the other.


"We did not know what to do, whether to stay inside or leave.


"Later, I heard people were evacuated, but we were not given
any advice and we stayed. We could see hot embers flying towards our
house and we thought it was going to go up."


Another local business, Croydon Ceilings, escaped any damage.


But its branch manager, who did not want to be named, said staff did not know what they were going to do today.


"We have not been told by the police or anyone about whether
to stay open or shut up. I know they are busy, but we haven't been given
any advice."