William and Kate visit riot-hit Birmingham

The Duke and Duchess visited a community centre near the spot where three men were killed during last week’s riots.

It was part of a series of meetings in Birmingham with people affected by the riots, including businesses, residents and emergency services.

The Summerfield Community Centre in Winson Green, is a short distance from the scene in Dudley Road where three men were struck by a car as they tried to protect shops and homes from looters.

Haroon Jahan, 21, and brothers Shazad Ali, 30, and Abdul Musavir, 31, died in the early hours of August 10.

They were buried yesterday after an open-air funeral service attended by more than 20,000 mourners.

The royal couple began their visit with a private meeting with the parents of the men who were killed.

By the time they left the community centre, a crowd had gathered outside, who clapped, cheered and whistled as the couple departed for the second part of their visit to the city.

‘Genuinely interested‘

Mandy Sankey, nurse manager at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, said William and Kate seemed “genuinely interested” in how hospitals in the city responded to the disorder.

Lesley Clare, a nurse at Birmingham’s City Hospital, said: “Kate was saying it must have been really hard to keep the services going.”

Later, the Royal couple visited the Machan Express coffee shop in Birmingham city centre which was looted by rioters.

The Duke and Dutchess met owner Ajay Bhatia, his wife Monika and staff during the visit to the popular outlet.

Despite rioters causing nearly £20,000 of damage to the shop and losing more than £15,000 of stock, Mr Bhatia still opened the next day.

The Duchess asked Mr Bhatia how many looters had targeted the shop and she looked surprised when told it was as many as 70.

The royal couple then sat down with Mr and Mrs Bhatia and discussed how last week’s rioting had affected the shop.

Community support

“They took all the cigarettes, which is the most expensive thing in here. They took the spirits and the wines, beers and chocolate.

“One was 10 years old, who was caught on CCTV picking up the cigarettes.

Mr Bhatia, who came to the UK from India in 2004, said the local community had rallied around to help to clean up the devastation – with one person even donating £200.

“I am really grateful to the community round here who have come and helped,” Mr Bhatia said.

“We were determined that we were not going to close the shop and we opened at midday the next day.

“We have got bills to pay and I cannot afford to have the shop closed.”

“I am not going to give it up because the whole community has stood by me and helped me out,” he said.

Mr Bhatia, 52, said he was amazed that the royal couple had chosen to come to his shop and revealed that his children had thought he was joking when he told them about it.

“They said ‘No, Dad, you are just making it up. You are just joking, it can’t be possible. How can they come to our shop?’.”