Estate Riots

Laban has a slightly unbelievable story of mass riots in Cheltenham, complete with mass arson, violence, petrol bombs and other assorted goodies one doesn't generally associate with the seat of retired Colonels and their wives. One detail, however, was enough to reassure me that this was indeed Cheltenham rather than Clichy:

At 8.45pm another fire was lit behind New Zealand House and a fire engine rushed to the scene of a blaze which threatened to set the whole tower block alight.They were quickly followed by two police vans and four police cars as youths hurled bricks at police and firefighters.The jeering and aggression grew as the sirens swept through the streets and officers with dogs and riot gear spilled out of vans to be confronted by baiting crowds.Residents of neighbouring Rhodesia House took to the balconies to watch as police swarmed on to the scene.

Rhodesia House? It has to be Cheltenham! Anywhere else this would have been renamed Robert Mugabe House, or ZANU PF Towers, but not there. Maybe the next riot will be launched from Siam House or Portuguese East Africa Towers.