A number of high street-based leisure facilities have been damaged during the violent disturbances affecting UK city centres over the past four days.

Restaurants, health clubs and gaming and betting sites are among the properties that have suffered from criminal damage and in some cases burglary.

A spokesperson for health club operator Fitness First said that its three clubs in the worst hit areas of London - Tottenham, Croydon and Clapham Lavender Hill - have all been closed until further notice but added that all other clubs had reopened.

Tony Orme, marketing director for LA Fitness, told Health Club Management that while the rioting had had little effect on the operation of the group's clubs, it had closed sites early in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool on police advice.

A number of high-street restaurant chains - such as McDonald's and Pizza Express - have had properties damaged by looters. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's restaurant and cookery school in Birmingham has also suffered damage.

In Notting Hill, London, a group of rioters targeted the The Ledbury restaurant and threatened patrons and staff but were repelled by the kitchen staff wielding cooking implements.

Prime Minister David Cameron has vowed to bring the disturbances to an end and said that a "fightback was under way".