Where the arsonists were more successful, such as Tottenham, in north London, scars remain.

ECONOMIST: A year after the riots

In fact, all the conservative Republicans, from Newt Gingrich to Pete Wilson, who have sought political advantage by exploiting white resentment should come and stand in the charred ruins of the New Liberty Baptist Church in Tyler, a tiny hamlet 10 miles east of Selma, and wonder if their coded phrases encouraged the arsonists.

CNN: Playing with Fire

It is just metres from the Croydon furniture store which was burned to the ground by arsonists.

BBC: London 2012: Beach volleyball plays on amid riots

In Leeds, arsonists targeted the carnival centre in Sheepscar at about 00:30 BST.

BBC: Disorder in West Yorkshire: six people arrested

Not every young adult has the talent and discipline of Jessica Ennis or Mo Farah, but nor are they epitomised by the wild looters and arsonists who roamed city streets last summer.

BBC: From Broken Britain to Team GB

As firefighting crews battled the blazes, authorities blamed arsonists for starting some, and even relighting others that had been brought under control.

ECONOMIST: The worst wildfires on record give Australia a week in hell

In the past week at least 20 grass and gorse fires have been tackled, with some being blamed on arsonists.

BBC: Cumbria locator