Pubs and clubs shut early in Kingston last night as the town braced itself for riots.

But rumours of offshoots of the kind of violence and lawlessness which hit Croydon, Colliers Wood, parts of Clapham Junction and other areas of London spreading to Kingston town centre were unfounded.

Wetherspoons opposite Oceana was one of many to shut early at about 10pm for the first time in years after police advice.

For most people the evening passed without any hint of trouble.

Clubbers at Amagi by the riverside were still queuing late into the night waiting to have a drink. Kebab shops served customers. Buses ran as normal.

But in the minds of the thousands frantically keeping up to date on social network Twitter the whole town centre was a battle zone.

A small police presence patrolled the town centre with protection outside the Bentall Centre, which was falsely rumoured on Twitter to be ablaze, boarded up or looted.

Reports that JD Sports had been looted, Kingston station closed, the Penrhyn Road Kingston University campus or the Cambridge estate up in flames, also proved to be untrue.

One incident was confirmed, a motorbike on fire at Villiers Road earlier in the evening but reports were that it was accidental and unconnected to riots.

Firefighters from Kingston, Surbiton and New Malden were drafted into help in Croydon.

Kingston watch manager Ian Frame said: "As far as I'm aware there were no problems [in Kingston]. Croydon was as you saw on the news. It was a bit unusual but police were with us nearby. I think we had adequate support."

Kingston police gave initial reports this morning that there had been no rioting or civil unrest although officers last night said there was some crime across the borough as usual.

There was one report of 20 young people with makeshift weapons being arrested in a car-park after a tip-off from the public but police have been unable to confirm the arrests yet this morning.

Many of its officers were drafted in by central Met Police Gold command to help across south west London.

One of the officers patrolling the town centre said she had done a 22 hour day.