THE child "exorcisms" taking place in South Norwood appear to have stopped this week.

Last week, the Advertiser reported how a group had been gathering on a street corner behind South Norwood Leisure Centre for almost a month, performing a mysterious ritual.

We witnessed a toddler standing in the middle of a group of adults beneath a lamppost on the corner of Enmore Road and Denmark Road.

The group, who had been performing the ritual between 4.30am and 5.30am every day since early September, was heard to loudly chant phrases like "get the demon out" and "in the name of Jesus".

When the Advertiser returned on Wednesday, there was no one there. An Enmore Road resident said she had heard less noise recently, but that her children had been scared of the suspicious activity.

The group were seen splashing water on the four corners of the crossroads they gathered on and had acted furtively prior to congregating on the street corner. It is not known where they come from.

A police spokesman said there had been no further complaints of strange behaviour since the group were warned by officers last week of the impact their activities may be having on the local area.

A COMMUNITY day held to "bring people together" and to help raise funds for an 11-year-old with a brain stem tumour has been hailed as a "fantastic success".

Kai Yearwood, from Kenley, visited the event, held on Sanderstead Recreational Ground on Saturday (September 27), with his family, who are raising funds to provide therapy and fulfil Kai's dream of completing his bucket list.

The day was the idea of Sanderstead couple Tim and Amanda Ashton, who transformed a disused toilet and bus stop next to the recreational ground into Priscilla's Tea Room earlier this year.

"One of the things that we wanted to do as part of opening was to have a hub to bring the community together, so the idea of having a community day was part of that," said Amanda, who works with Tim at Riddlesdown Collegiate.

"We wanted to get people using the park and raise money for Kai, as well as to mark our official opening."

Amanda said at least £250 had been raised for him in a bucket collection and raffle.

"The local shops along the parade helped by donating prizes. Everyone came together on the day, and people said it was really great to see the park full of people."

As well as the raffle and bucket collection, hundreds of people perused stalls set up by local charities, groups and businesses.

There were also performances by students from Dynamic Theatre Arts Academy and a display by local artist Aquinas.

Earlier on in the day, Councillor Yvette Hopley did the honour of officially opening Priscilla's Tea Room.

"Councillor Hopley cut the ribbon for the opening ceremony, altogether it was a fantastic day," said Amanda.

NEW homes, new jobs and improving district centres are at the heart of the "Croydon Promise" plan for regeneration approved by the council's cabinet on Monday.

The Promise sets out key points which the council says are essential if Croydon is to take advantage of the economic recovery and a growing desire to invest in the borough.

The growth plan also includes establishing a revolving investment fund which will allow the council to draw in money from both the public and private sector to help future regeneration.

Main elements of the Promise include starting on 9,500 new homes over the next five years; creating 16,000 jobs; overseeing the Westfield/Hammerson redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre and Centrale, with work due for completion in 2020; aiming to see 2,000 new business starts a year; establishment of a university and improved transport.

In addition the plan also sets out the council's commitment to reinstate Croydon's position as a premier office location by accelerating the development of one million square feet of high-quality office space, making the location the largest centre of accommodation outside Canary Wharf, the City and West End.

Councillor Alison Butler, the council's cabinet member for homes and regeneration, told Monday's meeting that the council was intending to hold detailed consultations with residents and businesses in district centres to discuss improvement plans and ensure, they, too, benefited from the overall regeneration of Croydon.

She said: "The Croydon Promise is a commitment to what the council can and will do."

"We will be leading from the front in making growth happen.

"Let us encourage our businesses and our people and if we have money to spend let's ensure that it goes into Croydon businesses and Croydon services."

The Promise was supported by Steve Yewman, the development director for Westfield, who told the cabinet it focused on the need for delivery. He said: "We believe there is a massive opportunity for creating employment across the borough and we want to see cross-party support to see this pushed forward."

Giving a guarded welcome and support to the plan, Conservative opposition leader, Councillor Tim Pollard described it as a continuation of a strategy that the previous Tory administration had been developing for a number of years.

After the meeting, council leader Tony Newman said: "We are on the cusp of massive regeneration across the borough, with exciting plans which will transform our borough bringing huge benefits to local residents.

"The growth plan is really important in setting out how we will deliver and ensures Croydon doesn't miss out on the opportunities created by another economic cycle."

A WOMAN in her 70s suffered smoke inhalation after fire broke out in the bedroom of her house in Redford Avenue, Coulsdon yesterday (Saturday) evening. The woman was treated by ambulance crews at the scene and firefighters say the fact she had a smoke alarm fitted in the house prevented a more serious fire. The crew from Purley, using breathing apparatus, had the fire out within minutes but the bedroom was badly damaged. Watch manager, Phil Newbery, said the woman was alerted to the fire when a smoke alarm went off at around 8.30pm. She inhaled smoke when she went upstairs to investigate. The woman returned downstairs immediately, led her two grandchildren, who were with her in the house, outside and called the fire brigade. Mr Newbery said: "This shows the importance of having a smoke alarm fitted in your home. "The woman was alerted by the alarm and we were able to get to the scene and put the fire out within a couple of minutes. "The alarm helped stop a small fire possibly becoming something a lot bigger."

INCREASING public confidence in the police is one of his biggest challenges, Croydon's top police officer has said this week.

Chief superintendent Andy Tarrant set out his stall when he addressed a meeting of Croydon Council's cabinet on Monday.

Chief Superintendent Tarrant said there was "a good news story" about reducing crime in Croydon, with figures showing significant drops house breaking and thefts of and from motor vehicles.

But he said: "The biggest challenge is really around translating that into confidence so that people feel more safe in the borough.

Chief Supt Tarrant said he aim was "policing for the public with the public" and that would be helped if people had confidence in what the police were doing.

He believed public confidence would be enhanced by people knowing they would get fair treatment from the police.

He was, he said, planning to take a fresh look at police tactics practised in the borough, including the use of stop and search powers.

Chief Supt Tarrant said: "There is a real opportunity to look forward and not back and I would hope that people feeling safer would support the regeneration efforts of the borough.

"The feelgood factor in communities is really important."

CROYDON'S fine tradition of producing X Factor finalists has continued tonight, as viewers saw Ben Haenow make it through to the live shows.

The 29-year-old van driver, from Shirley, was one of three acts chosen by Simon Cowell to progress from the Overs category, after an impressive and typically powerful rendition of A Little Help From My Friends in the judges houses stage of the ITV1 contest.

Haenow closed Saturday night's show with his performance poolside in Los Angeles, before learning his fate on Sunday night's show, where music mogul Cowell told him his latest performance had once again shown his quality.

Cowell has previously suggested Ben, currently fourth favourite with the bookies to win the show, is "one to watch" in the contest.

Ben will now join 11 other acts selected by the four judges in next week's first X Factor live show and will be hoping to at least emulate the success of Croydon acts Hannah Barrett and Rough Copy, who made it through to the final five in 2013.

"DISILLUSIONING" would be an apt term to describe Saturday's laboured efforts from the team at Hull. 

Now I'm certainly not going to overreact to the defeat and hint at some underlying issue that will plague the club for the rest of the season. Nevertheless, the complacency and ignorance of the basic facets of the game that have underpinned our recent success was vexing.

However, on the plus side, this defeat should serve as a wake-up call to the players that we are still very much a work in progress – and also enabled Martin Kelly to finally exhibit his prowess at centre-back.

Beginning with the negatives, there seemed an uncharacteristically laissez-faire attitude from the team on Saturday. Apparently taking no inspiration from their delightfully enriching surroundings in the 2017 European City of Culture, Palace acquitted themselves in a manner far removed from their performance at Goodison Park two weeks ago.

The compact and resolute unit against which Everton huffed and puffed was replaced by a disjointed shape with a soft underbelly on Humberside. Time and again the defence had dropped slightly too deep while the midfield had advanced a tad too far upfield. Both subtle and inconspicuous errors but these coalesced to create a pocket of space for Hull to advance into.

The midfield pushing up is perfectly acceptable provided that they actively press the opposition. However, while Joe Ledley remained his usual combative self, James McArthur was an exhibition in going through the motions while Mile Jedinak was little more than apathetic.

In the case of McArthur, having watched him a number of times turning out for Scotland and now for Palace, his performances seem far too ragged for comfort. Chasing shadows with the occasional infusion of class in possession, he is frustrating to watch. It is to be hoped that Marouane Chamakh can return to the midfield as soon as possible as he brings more class than McArthur while also providing more of a physical presence.

Fraizer Campbell – inferior technically to Dwight Gayle and in the team presumably for his superior work rate – should be looking over his shoulder now too after a leggy performance in which he seemed far too preoccupied with complaining rather than harrying.

That being said, it was just one performance and should spur the team into life once again; demonstrating to them the necessity to stick to the basics and principles that have served us so well thus far.

The potential absence of Scott Dann has called into question our squad depth in the centre-back position but Martin Kelly put in an accomplished shift there in his stead at the KC Stadium. Patient, strong in the tackle and positionally sound, he was a calming influence at the back. Indeed, the fault of Mohammed Diame's goal was actually Damien Delaney's as he didn't move across towards the right flank to cover Kelly.

One can but hope that the Liverpool academy graduate is given an opportunity in his natural position sooner rather than later.

A MAN who befriend then raped an 11-year-old girl from Addiscombe has been jailed for more than eight years. 

Police were contacted by the girl's parents on the afternoon of March 1 when she was late in returning home after visiting a relative. 

She arrived soon after but was in a distressed state, later telling police that she had been sexually assaulted in the Addiscombe area by a man she had met and befriended that day. 

An investigation was carried out by the Met's sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse command and detectives identified CCTV which showed a man who matched the description given by the girl. 

Images of the man were sent to officers in Croydon and PC Garcia, from Croydon CID, recognised him as James Bodenham, who he had stopped for riding his bike in the area a few weeks earlier. 

Bodenham, 26, was arrested at his home in St Luke's Close, South Norwood, on March 19. 

Detectives compared his DNA with samples taken from the victim's clothing and he was charged later that day with two counts of rape. 

Bodenham pleaded guilty to one count of rape on September 1, with the other to lay on file. 

He was jailed for eight years and six months at the Old Bailey on Friday (October 3) and was also handed a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO). 

Detective Constable David Bendall, from the sexual offences exploitation and child abuse command, led the investigation. He paid tribute to the bravery shown by the victim and her family. 

He said: "Bodenham targeted an extremely young and vulnerable girl, who will have to live with the consequences of his actions for the rest of her life.

"The victim and her family have shown tremendous strength and courage throughout the entire investigation. 

"I hope that bringing Bodenham to justice will, in some way, help them to move on from this terrible ordeal."

A CROYDON mum has raised over £400 for a hospice that cared for her father and aunt.

Mandy Kingsford, 33, surpassed her target of £400 for St Christopher's Hospice with her colleagues at the Specsavers stores in Croydon's Church Street and North End. They hosted a charity day, complete with a prize draw, teddy tombola, children's lucky dip and bake sale.

And next she is taking part in a charity sky dive to raise more cash.

Mandy said: "I know St Christopher's has a special place in many people's hearts, including mine, but I have been completely overwhelmed by the support from my colleagues and the community. 

"I'd like to thank everyone for helping me reach my target for such as worthy cause. With you all behind me, I'm feeling confident about the challenge ahead."

To make a donation visit Specsavers Croydon North End, CR0 1UD, call 020 8681 8688 or visit www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/croydonnorthend.

A BIG cat is causing a stir in the town centre and this time it is not Tiger Tiger.

Instead the wild animal is painted on the shutters of Rise, a new gallery due to open in St George's Walk on October 23.

The mural, by spray paint artist Gnasher, was commissioned by art dealer Kevin Zuchowski-Morrison who has set up the gallery as part of Croydon's new 'cultural quarter'.

The plan is for hundreds of other images to be painted around St George's Walk, Park Street and Katharine Street, with designs chosen by a committee including members of the public.

The 'tiger eyes' painting is pictured here through a bush opposite the store, giving the impression the beast is stalking its prey through the undergrowth.

ONE OF Croydon's finest athletes unveiled a plaque to another of the borough's lesser-known sporting heroes this week.

Former 400m runner Donna Fraser helped mark the achievements of forgotten South Norwood runner Ellen 'Ciss' Wright with a blue plaque at South Norwood Leisure Centre.

South Norwood runner Miss Wright, born in 1910, won the 440 yards at the women's AAA in 1931 - becoming the national champion of England.

Community group People for Portland Road sponsored the plaque after a campaign by local historian John Hickman and Croydon Harriers' archivist Mike Fleet.

Fraser, 41, originally from Thornton Heath, said: "I was told a few months ago and I was more than happy to be there at the unveiling, it's good to put something back to Croydon, which as an area has really helped me in my career.

"It is good that they are doing this to celebrate local heroes, it's just a shame she's not around to see it. It shows the amount of talent we have in Croydon.

"She won the equivalent of what is now the AAAs, which in my heyday was a really big deal but it was harder for her to get noticed."

Fraser excelled at the same distance as Miss Wright, winning the AAAs on a number of occasions and went on win bronze medals at the World Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Games.

She believes it is a shame these achievements are not celebrated until it is too late. "It's such a shame that people only tend to be recognised when they die," Fraser added.

"Things are a lot better now but you can imagine females were not regarded in the same way so it would have been tough for her."

It is believed Miss Wright, who used to work in one of her father's shoemaking and repair shops in either South Norwood or Thornton Heath, emigrated to Australia with her husband and faded into obscurity.

Fraser, who is a breast cancer campaigner and also works for EDF, said she would be delighted if she were to one day receive a similar honour.

She said: "I would be honoured to be recognised in the future but there are a lot of people who came before me who have done great things and are yet to be recognised.

"It'd be lovely to have a plaque with my name on it – as long as it's not in the lady's toilets in The Whitgift Centre!"