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Londoners have described the atmosphere in Walthamstow – where businesses have shut early and have been boarded up ahead of potential disorder – as “chilling”.

Louis Staples wrote on X: “Very strange atmosphere in Walthamstow this evening.”

Sharing a video of a quiet street, he added: “This street would normally be crammed full of people but it’s quiet, almost all businesses have shut early, even the big Lidl supermarket. (Good to see so many businesses prioritising staff safety, but the result is chilling)

“If I was to compare the atmosphere I would say it feels like the very first Covid lockdowns…Very disconcerting.”

“Walthamstow is crazy rn, everything boarded up,” wrote another X user.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, has written to all MPs encouraging them to stay away from work if they fear that they could be …