David Cameron is flying back from Italy to chair an emergency meeting in Downing Street after riots in London continued unabated for a third day.

Police are struggling to contain riots in London for a third night as the violence spread to Birmingham, Liverpool and Bristol. The riots, which began as a protest against the police shooting of a man in Tottenham, turned into violence over the weekend.

According to the BBC, Cameron, who was in Tuscany for a family holiday, was travelling on a UK military flight leaving Italy at 03.00 BST.

The riot started in London, with youths hurling missiles at police in Hackney with widespread looting and burning buildings. Police have been besieged as looting spread to other parts of the capital including Peckham, Clapham Junction, Notting Hill, Brixton, Croydon, Camden, Ealing and Bethnal Green. Rioters have attacked police in Liverpool and a police station was set on fire and more than 80 people were arrested in Birmingham.

Scotland Yard's Acting Commissioner Tim Godwin implored parents to take control of their children and admitted "significant disorder" was breaking out in a number of areas in the city.

Cameron is due to chair the government's Cobra emergency planning committee to discuss the riots. BBC notes that this will be the first true test of Cameron's leadership. He will face questions about how the riots were allowed to escalate and whether the police were equipped to handle it.

Labour leader Ed Miliban is also returning to London after a family holiday in Devon.

"I am shocked by the scenes we are seeing in parts of London and Birmingham," he said. "This violence and vandalism is disgraceful criminal behaviour."

Home Secretary Theresa May who also ended her summer break early warned that those responsible "will be made to face the consequences of their actions."

London Mayor Boris Johnson facing criticism over his absence is due back in London at lunchtime on Tuesday.