A REVIEW has found the number of people using Purley War Memorial Hospital's urgent care services has dropped by a third in the six months since it was downgraded.

The review by Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) found 778 people visited the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) in May, when the decision was taken, compared to 525 visitors in October, a 32.5 per cent drop.

Residents were upset when the Minor Ailment/Minor Injury service at Purley was changed to an MIU in May last year, halving opening hours and removing access to the hospital's X-ray machine.

Croydon CCG wants to establish whether current opening hours, 2pm to 8pm, should be returned to the original hours of 8am to 8pm. It also wants to see if there is enough demand for X-ray and plastering at the MIU.

But the new data, which covers May to October, missing out the busy winter months, is not conclusive enough to decide if the services should be changed, the report said.

It found 72 per cent saying the care they received at the MIU was "excellent", while every patient was treated or sent elsewhere within the two hour target.

An average of two people a day needed an X-ray at the MIU and on average a third of those who turned up were sent to other health services like A&E. And, while more people visited A&E and the Urgent Care Centre at Croydon University Hospital during the six-month period, the review does not state whether this was linked to the change in services at Purley.

Just over half of patients said they would have gone to A&E if the MIU was not there.

The MIU has attracted a lot of confusion since a sign outside the hospital said it was an Urgent Care Centre. At the end of October the CCG put up a new, temporary, sign. It hopes a permanent replacement will be erected soon.

The review concluded: "It is recognised that as the new service models have only been in operation since May 2014 further evidence will be required before any firm recommendations can be reached on any service change."

CRYSTAL Palace look set to agree terms with former Newcastle United forward Shola Ameobi.

The 33-year-old was understood to be at the club's training ground on Tuesday.

Should the Eagles complete the move, boss Alan Pardew will have six strikers to choose from.

That could change, however, with Fraizer Campbell linked with a move to Queens Park Rangers in a swap deal for midfielder Jordon Mutch.

Ameobi left Newcastle last summer and joined Turkish second division side Gaziantep. However, he left at the end of December and is a free agent.

By Mark Ritson (Twitter @MR_LWMedia)

Manchester United's Wilfried Zaha has been tipped for a permanent switch back to Crystal Palace.

After signing for the Red Devils from the Eagles two years ago for a fee up to £15m, it has been reported that Palace could complete a £3m deal for the winger. 

Zaha has been in fine form of late under manager Alan Pardew, with the player himself stating how happy he is in south London.

A LONG time ago in a galaxy not so far away, Star Wars action figures were just toys - but now they're selling for thousands of pounds.

One Star Wars collector from Croydon, Craig Stevens, has put 75 of his "world-leading" collection of action figures on sale - to fund a new house - and they could raise more than £100,000 at auction today.

Craig told the Advertiser he was just the right age to be swept up in the frenzy which surrounded the first film's release back in 1977-78.

"I was one of those kids who saw it when it first came out. It dazzled us all and I'm still dazzled now."

He said collecting anything and everything to do with the iconic science fiction trilogy was a natural progression from being a fan.

"I was a huge fan and I just wanted to get my hands on anything with Star Wars on it.

"A lot of collecting was basically free of charge, you kept your cereal packets, your Star Wars crisps.

"A lot of relatives would say, 'I've found a Star Wars thing for you', so from day one I collected anything I could get my hands on."

Just some of the 70 figures due to go on sale today (Photo: Vectis)

Auctioneers Vectis estimate one of his figures - of cult bounty hunter Boba Fett - could set a new record for British Star Wars figures, with it estimated to sell at up to £15,000.

Though Boba Fett figures are relatively common, it is thought that Craig's Palitoy, packaged 'B' version is the "Holy Grail" of such figures - with only 3 or four known to exist.

Craig, 44, said it would be "heart-wrenching" to see it go.

"The Boba Fett is the one everyone is talking about and the one that means the most to me really. It's a beautiful piece in beautiful condition."

This boxed Boba Fett action figure could sell for up to £15,000 (Photo: Vectis)

But he told auctioneers Vectis he was confident that by selling the collection at auction it would go to a collector who valued preserving the rare figures.

Sci fi, TV and film toy expert Kathy Taylor said: "The Palitoy Boba Fett figure is from the vintage 'Golden Age' of Star Wars films and they rarely if ever come on to the market.

"We have seen prices rise year-on-year for high end Star Wars items and I am in no doubt that we will see figures of this class selling for hundreds of thousands in years to come".

Craig has recently finished writing a book about the British fan experience called Star Wars: Made In Britain, and is looking for a publisher at the moment.

"What people forget is that there was a long gap between the films coming out in the US and here, so British fans had a completely different experience," he said.

"Even when they came out here, they slowly made their way across the country.

"The books in the shops are based on the American Star Wars fan experience and merchandise. Britain had a unique Star Wars experience which I have encapsulated in my book."

For more information on the auction, which is expected to get underway this morning, visit www.vectis.co.uk

A second batch of Craig's figures are due to go on sale on February 28.

CHRIS Philp, the Conservative candidate in Croydon South at the General Election, reacts to the decision to keep Purley Pool open...

ON MONDAY, following overwhelming public pressure, the council granted Purley Pool a welcome reprieve from planned closure. It was a pleasure to work alongside Fred Wallis, Ken Whittick and the rest of the Purley Pool campaigners to force the council into this re-think.

Steve O Connell and I collected around 2,000 petition signatures and Fred's team collected around 4,000 which forced a council debate on the issue. The morning of the day of the debate, the council announced their climb-down. It is an example of people power in action.

It is now vital that the relatively small sums of money needed for ongoing essential maintenance is made available, and that local residents sit on a panel to give input into keeping the pool in useable condition. The pool does not need much money to keep it going. It would be a scandal if neglect caused the pool to close.

Of course, the council should never have threatened the pool with closure in the first place. The leader had promised before last year's election to keep it open. It was shocking that he even contemplated breaking his promise – especially as Labour pledged £17m for a new pool in their New Addington heartland, while claiming not to have a few hundred thousand to save Purley Pool.

The previous Conservative administration in Croydon spent what was necessary to keep Purley Pool open while a longer-term regeneration solution was found. Croydon Conservatives also pledged before the election that the pool will stay open until a replacement is opened in the Purley or Coulsdon area. This is the right approach.

Now that the immediate future of the pool seems to have been secured, we must work towards a long-term solution. The south of the borough deserves a modern pool and leisure complex. The facility at Waddon is not readily accessible to people from Cousldon or Kenley, especially those who do not drive.

I understand that money for new schemes is tight. So we need to look at sites in the south of the  borough that are due for regeneration and find ways of using the surplus generated – or CIL and s106 financial contributions from developers – to fund a new pool and leisure complex. 

The current pool site itself combined with the adjacent vacant former Sainsbury's and car park provide an excellent opportunity to re-build a run-down site and at the same time release funds (by selling private flats) for a new pool complex. 

Further, the Cane Hill development is due to generate £6m of financial contributions from the developer, which could also help. The same may apply to the site on Purley Cross, shortly due to come up for planning, if a suitable scheme is proposed.

With some energy and vision a long term pool solution can be found. I will work with the council – whether Conservative or Labour run – to help bring that about.

Note: We have also offered Labour's Emily Benn the chance to write a column on this subject 

CRYSTAL Palace's FA Cup tie with either Liverpool or Bolton Wanderers has been selected for television coverage on Saturday, February 14.

BT Sport will broadcast the fifth round clash at Selhurst Park and it has been set for a 5.30pm kick-off on Valentine's Day. 

A 12-YEAR-OLD boy has been arrested on suspicion of stabbing a 14-year-old boy in Croydon last night (Tuesday).

Police were called at 7pm to reports of a stabbing in Ruskin Road where officers and London Ambulance Service crews found a boy with a stab wound to his leg.

He was taken to a south London hospital where he currently remains stable.

A 12-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and currently remains in police custody at a south London police station

Detectives from Croydon CID are investigating and enquiries continue.

U21 Development League

Brentford 3-0 Palace

PALACE's U21 side fell to a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Brentford on Tuesday.

Club captain Paddy McCarthy was given game time for Gary Issott's side, while Hiram Boateng and Ryan Inniss were also given starts.

All three goals for the Bees came in the final several minutes after a stunning hat-trick from trialist Keshi Anderson, and it was Palace U21's second consecutive defeat.

Brentford thought they had taken the lead in wonderful fashion when Sam Saunders' long-range free-kick sailed over David Gregory and in, but the referee ruled the ball wasn't dead as the midfielder took aim.

Inniss went close with a header before Morgan Ferrier was denied with a second attempt by veteran goalkeeper Richard Lee, while Kyle de Silva also went close before the half-time break.

In the second half, Reise Allassani hot the post as Palace stepped up their efforts for the opener, but after further missed chances, Brentford punished Palace late on quite considerably.

Anderson's shot took a slight deflection off Inniss and went in off the crossbar to take the lead on 83 minutes.

Then, following a counter-attack, Anderson volleyed in a second after Gregory had parried a shot.

And at the death, the forward grabbed his and Brentford's third with a header to flatter the hosts' scoreline.

Palace: Gregory, Egbo, McCarthy, Inniss, Berkeley-Agyepong, Black (Adarabioyo 85), Boateng, Dymond, de Silva, Allassani, Ferrier. Subs not used: Simpson, Magri, Sow, Akiotu.

A MAN died at a betting shop in Croydon town centre yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon.

London Ambulance Service were called to a commercial premises – understood to be Paddy Power - in George Street at approximately 3pm after a man was believed to be in cardiac arrest.

The man was pronounced dead at 3.45pm.

Police, who also attended, are not treating the death as suspicious. 

CRYSTAL Palace skipper Mile Jedinak helped Australia to the final of the 2015 Asian Cup after the Socceroos beat the United Arab Emirates 2-0 in the semi-final this week.

It is the second time in succession Jedinak has reached the final of the continental competition, having lost four years ago to Japan.

Australia will face South Korea in the final, the country who beat the Socceroos in the group stages earlier this month.

However, Jedinak missed that game through injury but will be available to lead out his country.

There was further joy on the international stage this week as Palace winger Yannick Bolasie has made it through to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations with Democratic Republic of Congo.

Bolasie starred in the 1-1 draw with Tunisia on Tuesday, and it was enough to take them through on goal difference to set up a tasty meeting with neighbours Congo.

It is the first time in nine years Bolasie's country have reached the knockout stages in the competition.

Meanwhile, Palace forward Kwesi Appiah won his first cap for Ghana this week, helping his country to a 2-1 win against South Africa to also make the quarter-finals of the African tournament.

Appiah came on with 20 minutes to and played his part in a turnaround with Ghana trailing.

The striker came on as a 70th-minute substitute as his side trailed 1-0, but Ghana equalised just minutes after Appiah came on thanks to John Boye.

Appiah then saw a shot turned onto the post but thankfully Andre Ayew grabbed the winner soon after.

A Croydon motorist has fallen foul to a group of rogue rodents who gnawed their way through parts of his new car.

Tony Steeles, from Croydon, found parts of his brand new Toyota Aygo chewed to bits by hungry squirrels just days after buying it.

He has had to pay for repeated repair bills after finding his aerial, oxygen sensor and rubber trims all damaged by the furry fiends.

"I keep my car in the garage now, and it's a bit inconvenient to do that, but that way I can be sure it won't happen again," he told motoring magazine AutoExpress.

Strangely, Mr Steeles' vehicle was the only victim on his road, prompting speculation as to whether Toyota's research into plant-based plastics is the key to the squirrels' behaviour.

Parts of the Aygo are manufactured from plastics derived from sources such as the castor oil plant.

Rodents have been known to eat the electrical wiring from cars, roof insulation and even gnaw through the brake cables.

A car engine's warmth also provides a cosy nesting place for the animals during the winter months.

A Toyota spokesman told the magazine it would "investigate if any improvements can be made to the design of our products to deter rodents".

Mr Steeles has since swapped his Aygo for a Toyota Yaris.

A MAN in his 80s was seriously injured after he was involved in a collision with a lorry at Purley Cross at lunchtime today (Wednesday).

The accident happened at around 12.30pm at the junction of Russell Hill Road and Purley Way. A police spokesman said the man had been taken to hospital suffering from serious injuries to his arm. The injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. 

The accident resulted in the closure of the A23 near the junction and southbound traffic was earlier reported to be queuing back to Purley Way's junction with Mill Lane, Croydon. Buses on routes 127, 289, 405, 434 and 455 are being diverted around the junction.

Police at the scene of the collision earlier today

A PAIR of fly-tippers who dumped two tonnes of building waste in a Waddon cul-de-sac have been branded "cowards".

Croydon Council officers were called to Lysander Road on the Imperial Way trading estate at around 3.30pm last Wednesday (January 21) after receiving reports of two men arriving in a van and tipping floor materials, windows, wood and other building waste on to the street.

The men fled on foot towards Imperial Way once neighbouring workers noticed the waste being dumped.

The council seized the vehicle, a specially-adapted Ford Transit van with a black storage area. The van will be crushed, once the investigation is over.

Environmental enforcement officers are now trawling neighbouring companies' CCTV footage and interviewing witnesses.

Councillor Stuart Collins, the council's cabinet member for Clean and Green Croydon, said: "Fly-tipping is a crime, and we urge anyone with information to help us find the cowards who chucked this waste and fled.

"You might not have seen them dump the waste, but the chances are that someone saw this distinctive van being loaded for an illegal cash-in-hand house clearance."

The new council administration has made getting tough on fly-tippers a key priority, via its Don't Mess With Croydon - Take Pride campaign.

A BOBA Fett action figure from 1980 sold by a Croydon Star Wars fanatic has fetched a record £18,000 at auction.

Craig Stevens paid just £50 for the figure when he bought it in 1990, though it cost £1.50 when it was first released in 1980.

Craig, 44, told the Advertiser that only three or four figures exist in similar condition in the world, and he wanted to sell some of his 10,000 piece Star Wars memorabilia collection to go towards a new house.

He said it would be "heart-wrenching" to see the figurine, which was valued at between £10,000 and £15,000, go.

"The Boba Fett is the one everyone is talking about and the one that means the most to me really. It's a beautiful piece in beautiful condition."

Some of the 70 figures which were auctioned today (Photo: Vectis)

The other 69 figurines, which were auctioned off at Vectis Toy Auctioneers in Stockton, Teeside, raised a total of £23,796. A further 15 will be sold next month.

Vectis said the previous record sale for a British-manufactured Palitoy Star Wars figure was £10,400.

Craig with another of his Star Wars figures

Crystal Palace are closing in on the signing of Queens Park Rangers midfielder Jordon Mutch.

The fee is believed to be around £4.75m for the former Cardiff City man.

Rangers want Fraizer Campbell as part of a deal but it seems Palace are reluctant to do business on that front.

A PROFESSIONAL food market launched as a new concept last March off Purley Way is to close its doors after less than a year.

Food supplier Brakes, which has been delivering products to the catering industry for about 80 years, chose Croydon as the destination for their first market.

But the company has now decided to open the consultation process for closing the store and abandon plans to open further professional food markets.

A Brakes statement said it is now focused on its online shopping ventures and the launch of its 'multi-temperature' service.

The statement also said the store, in Beddington Farm Road, was only ever meant to be a trial venture.

Brakes has today begun a consultation process to close the store and promise to offer support to its employees.

THE Crystal Palace star, pictured here during an Eagles v Everton clash in the early 90s, is obviously John Salako.

But can you name the away side's defender pictured by Neil Everitt, trying to stop the winger in his tracks?

Step forward, ex-Arsenal hardman and Ruud van Nistelrooy-baiter Martin Keown, who turned out at Selhurst Park during his brief, not-so-celebrated spell with the Toffees.

The Division One match, in April 1991, finished 0-0.

Everton travel to Selhurst Park this weekend having lost their last five Premier League away games on the run and it is hard to see why they should be favourites, albeit marginal ones, against a resurgent Crystal Palace who are into 25/1 for the FA Cup.

The Eagles are 19/10 at BetVictor to take all three points at the weekend with the Blues 17/10 and the draw 9/4.

Alan Pardew must decide who to start in attack for the Eagles with Marouane Chamakh and Yaya Sanogo the FA Cup heroes yet Dwight Gayle, rested for the Saints clash, scored twice at Turf Moor in the last PL game having scored from the penalty spot against Spurs a week earlier.

Gayle is 7/1 to score the opener, Sanogo 15/2 and Chamakh 17/2 and, in their present mood, Bet Victor just can't see the Merseyside club being able to keep Palace at bay.

Earlier this season, Pardew's Newcastle came from a goal down to beat Everton 3-2 at St James' Park, and Palace came from a goal down to beat Everton 3-2 at Goodison back in September.

Palace are now only 15/1 to win from behind at Selhurst Park and 35/1 for another 3-2 success.

The recommendation is the 5/1 at BetVictor for Palace to win and both teams to score.

LABOUR failed to declare a front page advert taken out in a Croydon newspaper in last year's election expenses.

The Electoral Commission has launched an investigation into why the four-page advertisement, placed in the Croydon Guardian six days before polls opened on May 22, was not included in the party's spending returns.

Breaching strict rules around election spending is an offence which could lead to a fine or criminal prosecution.

The advert, which could have cost around £2,000, is not listed among either the party's local or European election expenses filed with the Electoral Commission.

It is understood Labour took legal advice before deciding the advert, which was paid for by the London branch, should be listed as European rather than council election spending, even though it only appeared in Croydon and made no reference to its EU candidates. In any case, the expense was not registered in either.

Tim Pollard, leader of the Conservative group, said it was "clear" the advert was "aimed at influencing the local election".

It encompassed the front and back of the paper, as well as two inside pages, and featured the front page headline "Ed Miliband comes to Croydon" alongside a picture of the Labour leader at an event in the town.

It promoted some of the party's national policies and urged readers to "Vote Labour on Thursday 22 May".

On May 7, a week earlier, the Conservatives had spent £2,000 on an identically sized advert attacking Labour on supposed plans to raise council tax. It also spent £3,000 for a four-page pull out the following week.

Spending by political parties during election campaigns is monitored by the Electoral Commission.

During local authority elections parties must abide by spending limits set for each ward, which are set at £740 plus 6p per elector.

Ward specific spending, such as leaflets promoting specific candidates, are applied to the area in question, while general expenditure, such as administration and office costs, is shared across the borough as a whole.

The Conservatives accounted for the two adverts the party took out by dividing the bill between the 70 candidates who stood in Croydon.

The Advertiser viewed the spending returns at the Town Hall on Tuesday.

They show Labour spent £792.91 per candidate in Waddon, just £7.09 pence below the legal limit of £800.

Labour went on to narrowly win all three seats in the ward from the Conservatives, with just 121 votes separating the candidates in third and fourth, a victory which played a key role in party retaking control of the council for the first time since 2006.

Council leader Tony Newman declined to comment on the expense returns when contacted by the Advertiser.

Councillor Pollard added: "The advert was clearly aimed at influencing the local election so it should be included in the local election expenses.

"We rely on and trust the Electoral Commission to do their job and if they find there is a case to answer which, on the face of it, it looks as if there is, they should investigate and ensure that fair play happened.

"The reality is that spending limits exist for a reason and one would hate to think the natural course of democracy is distorted by one party spending more than they should have and getting away with it."

The Electoral Commission confirmed it was considering the matter in line with its enforcement policy. "We cannot comment further at this stage," a spokesperson said.

It has no powers to punish breaches of rules on candidate expenses and donations, but may refer a suspected breach for criminal investigation or seek prosecution.

A Labour spokesperson said: "This was an administrative issue which has now been referred to the Electoral Commission. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."