COPYCAT rioting and looting across London tonight has stretched emergency services.

Police have been deployed to respond to disturbances across the capital, with reported violence breaking out in Enfield, Islington, Brixton and Walthamstow. The violence follows a night of rioting in Tottenham on Saturday.

Three police were taken to hospital after being hit by a fast-moving vehicle at 12.45am. The officers had been in the process of making arrests in Chingford Mount after a shop was looted by youths.

A fight broke out when rival gangs attended King's College Hospital after two victims of minor stabbings were admitted, police said.

The hospital has brought in extra security for the rest of the night and officers remain on scene dealing with the initial stabbings, the spokesman added.

Six fire engines were dispatched to deal with a blaze at a Foot Locker shop in Brixton and witnesses saw riot police clash with looters at a Currys store nearby.

More than 30 youths, many in masks, vandalised and looted shops in Walthamstow Central, including BHS.

Vandalism was also carried out by about 50 youths in Oxford Circus, central London.

A police vehicle was attacked in Islington. And a Tesco store in Ponders End was also broken into and items stolen. The looting across London was carried out by "small and mobile" groups, the Met spokesman said. He added police officers had been attacked and a number of police vehicles damaged.

Commander Christine Jones, said: "This is a challenging situation with small pockets of violence, looting and disorder breaking out on a number of boroughs. We have deployed units across London and continue to move quickly to deal with any reports of criminality as soon as possible."