A good samaritan stepped in to help Birmingham shopkeepers caught up in two nights of rioting.

Property developer Brian McCabe got a team of workers together and headed into the city to help board up shop windows and protect them from being vandalised.

And they did it all for free.

Mr McCabe, operations director for Northern Ireland-based design and renovation firm Urban Living, said it was their experiences of the Troubles back home that made them step in.

“We are used to this sort of thing every summer and have seen it personally with friends and family getting their businesses wrecked,” he said.

“Something like this is just a small gesture but it means a lot to people.

“Hopefully it gives them a feeling that there are good people out there willing to help and that it’s not all bad.”

During Wednesday evening, workers boarded up 15 shops in the city centre, bringing relief to the frightened owners of small businesses.

Mr McCabe added: “Every project we do, we put a little bit of money in a pot so we can put something back into the community. We just got a few sheets of plywood and gave up a few hours of labour to go into the city centre to help. It wasn’t that difficult but it meant a lot to people

“We all have to stick together and condemn the violence. If we all pull together good will come through in the end.”