Insurers and loss adjusters have been bracing for claims from the weekend London riots, with Crawford & Company already handling a large number of claims.

A spokesman for Crawford said the firm was already handling several claims for large retail stores hit by the rioting.

Aviva senior claims manager Jason Harris said: “So far we have seen a low volume of claims calls, but of course it is early days.”

Many of the areas affected were still closed off as crime scenes, meaning that many of those affected will not have been able to assess the damage, he said.

AXA Commercial director of claims and underwriting David Williams said the insurer could not put a figure on its losses from the riots, but that the insurer was contacting its policyholders and brokers to determine the damage.

A Zurich spokesman said that putting a figure on its losses was too commercially sensitive, but added: “Our claims teams have been liaising with our commercial and local authority customers across north, east and south east London both yesterday and this morning to ensure we are aware of any losses incurred, and to start the claims process.”

A GAB Robins spokesman said it had teams on the ground in the riot areas.