POLICE in Croydon have recommended bookies set up a "betting shop watch" group to protect themselves and residents from crime.

In a similar scheme to the popular PubWatch run by bars and clubs, officers have recommended shops band together to share best practice.

The police have also endorsed the idea of new betting shops joining Safer Croydon Radio (SCR), a Croydon Council-run initiative through which local businesses, such as pubs, clubs and retailers, can come together to tackle business crime.

The recommendations came at a licensing committee meeting on Tuesday night, where a three-year review of the consequences of the 2005 Gambling Act took place, and the council's existing policy was re-adopted in principle.

But Councillor Tony Newman, leader of the Labour group, who has told the Advertiser how betting shops were "taking over the high street", said the recommendations did not go far enough.

He said: "This is a welcome yet very small step in the right direction, but nobody should kid themselves that this is going to be the answer to the problem of betting shops covering the high street.

"I want to see the council taking a much harder view on betting licences. I think the time has come to sort it out.

"I look across the district centres of Croydon and in some cases they are in danger of being overrun by the betting shops.

"I appreciate that much of this is national legislation and it's a planning issue as well as a licensing issue. But a council the size of Croydon should be able to make sure that they are working together more closely to sort out the problem."

A statement from Croydon Council read: "Safer Croydon Radio is a successful and well-established system that many businesses are already signed up for, so the council thinks it appropriate that the police have suggested that new betting shops should become part of the network.

"The PubWatch arrangement has also been successful in Croydon, and we are already trying a similar approach with betting shops in the main town centre. It will certainly make sense."

WHEN Alan Potter left his job as director for education and learning at Croydon Council in April, he set his mind on starting up his own business.

Now with help from the Prince's Initiative for Mature Enterprise, Mr Potter, 55, has launched Silver Rising with the aim of providing learning courses for the elderly.

With no experience in the business world, the Prince's Initiative offered him advice and support in drawing up a business plan and getting his new company off the ground.

The Initiative centres its activities on providing backing and advice to the over-50s keen to move into self-employment.

Commenting on the value of the business course, Mr Potter said: "Sometimes you don't realise how easy it can be to get started in business when there is such good quality help available.

"You don't need a fully formed idea and you don't need to know everything about business because the help is there, with people to guide you."

Mr Potter, who still lives in Croydon, said his aim was to work primarily with care homes and voluntary groups who support elderly people.

He said: "You hear about elderly people who say they are doing a lot but often what they are doing does not have purpose."

He wanted to devise activities which would provide that purpose.

He intended to encourage groups to look at the kind of activities they were providing to see if the could be adapted or expanded to provide more stimulus for the people they were looking after.

Mr Potter said: "I would like to see groups providing activities which are not just a supplement to people's lives or doing the same thing over and over again."

For example, he said, elderly people could be encouraged to volunteer to go into schools and share their wealth of experiences with the younger generation.

Mr Potter said: "It is assumed that as people get older their capacity to learn decreases but the fact is that memory can improve with age."

He was confident that a combination of what he describes as "whole-life learning" with a healthy lifestyle would being great benefits to people as they got older.

He said: "Not only can we help them to widen their education it is also possible improve their lives both medically and socially."

Mr Potter added: "What I want to do is help bring about a generation of people who are more independent."

THE case for extending Tramlink to Crystal Palace is being stepped up as officials begin to put the finishing touches to the next Transport for London (TfL) business plan.

The plan is due to be published in mid-December, setting out TfL's spending plans for the next five years, and lobbyists in Croydon want to ensure funding for the extension is included.

The extension, originally costed at £170million, was planned by former Labour Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, but was dropped by Boris Johnson when he became mayor in 2008, claiming there was no money available.

But Mr Johnson revived the idea last year and ordered another feasibility study, which supporters hope will now signal funding in the new business plan.

Among groups now urging the mayor and TfL to back the scheme are Croydon Council, the Croydon Business Improvement District (BID) and the Develop Croydon Forum, comprising major companies helping lead the regeneration of the borough.

Council leader Mike Fisher said: "I have met and written to the mayor stressing the need for the link to Crystal Palace.

"I have also been pushing for other Tramlink improvements, including double tracking to Wimbledon and an extra platform at Wimbledon Station.

"This is a key line which is being used beyond capacity."

Cllr Fisher added: "There is a lot of capital spending involved in the business plan and we have got to be in there.

"A lot of the preparatory work has already been done on the Crystal Palace extension. It is now a case of getting the money for the scheme to progress."

Matthew Sims, chief executive of the BID, said: "It is important that we continue to improve the transport infrastructure in Croydon.

"Extending Tramlink to Crystal Palace is an opportunity we have to see taken.

"The extension would have a positive impact on businesses en route, and help make sure that Croydon grows."

In a letter sent to the mayor this week, Richard Plant, chairman of the Develop Croydon Forum, said: "There is substantial evidence to support the economic, regeneration and transport benefits of the extension.

"We urge you to fund the Crystal Palace Tramlink extension in your forthcoming Transport for London Business Plan."

A THORNTON Heath school has been named within the top seven per cent best performing primaries in England and Wales.

St James the Great Roman Catholic Primary and Nursery School, in Windsor Road, is celebrating an Ofsted report where it was labelled "outstanding" in every category.

The achievement is even more remarkable because the number of pupils who speak English as an additional language is three times the national average.

An inspection was held on October 24 and 25 and led by Mandy Snook and two additional inspectors.

Within the report she writes that the teachers have "excellent subject knowledge" and are "enthusiastic and inspiring".

She said: "Behaviour in lessons is exemplary. Pupils enjoy their lessons and manage to do a great deal of work every term.

"They show much enthusiasm for their learning and regularly choose to do more demanding work, which they discuss animatedly with their talk partners and in groups, contributing to a 'buzz' of learning in all lessons.

"Pupils show respect for all adults and for each other. They are polite, have good manners and are friendly and cooperative."

Stephen Beck has been the head teacher at the school for 23 years and leads a school that is "managed exceptionally well".

It caters for 483 pupils aged between three and 11.

Delighted with the report and saying it was a credit to the children, Mr Beck added: "I've never felt the job is finished.

"All throughout my time I've tried to maintain a family atmosphere and to make sure education remains fun - although obviously the children are still learning.

"Everybody has pulled together in terms of the staff, governors and the parents who are very supportive."

St James the Great converted to become an academy school in April this year.

Attendance rates are above the national average and pupils are always punctual to school

Edwin Abreo, chairman of governors, expressed his confidence that the school would not take the accolade for granted and that work would continue to build on the success. He added: "Complacency is not an option."

MERSTHAM manager Hayden Bird has stated that star striker Fabio Saraiva is "not quite ready" for the professional game.

Not that the Moatside boss doubts his front man can make it.

Bird believes Saraiva has all the attributes to become a professional player, just not quite yet.

He said: "Fabio is a player who's regarded very highly by me, however, it's easy to forget that he's a very young man and with all youngsters their only consistency is their inconsistency.

"In order for Fabio to move up to the next level he needs to consistently perform to show everyone that he's a cut above this level that he's playing at currently.

"He's got to improve, but I don't doubt that potentially he's capable of playing professionally, but maybe he's not quite ready yet."

Saraiva went on trial with Championship side Charlton Athletic in pre-season, but it didn't work out, with the forward telling the Surrey Mirror that becoming a professional meant everything to him.

He said then: "A professional footballer is all I've ever wanted to be, there is no 'plan b' for me. To be a professional footballer would just be my dream come true."

Since then though, Bird has revealed there have been no other approaches for Saraiva or any of his other players, though the manager is doing what he can to boost their image.

He added: "This is a very young man, he's only 19, but he's a talented young man and he's got everything ahead of him.

"He's just got to keep working hard and I'm sure he will get there.

"Scouts come along and whether they are coming to see Fabio or other players in the team I don't know but there's been no interest in anybody.

"I have spoken to clubs about it in order to help him out and invited clubs to come and watch him, but there's a lot of Fabios out there.

"He's got to realise that if he really wants to be a professional footballer, there's only a few that get that opportunity and when he gets it he's got to show he's capable of being a cut above the rest. If he continues to show the attitude and application then who knows?"

HUNDREDS of residents have given an emphatic "no" to plans for a Lidl in Sanderstead.

Opposition is mounting against the supermarket's 1,300-square-metre store plan, which has been put out for consultation by Tandridge District Council.

The German chain wants to demolish the former Good Companions pub in Limpsfield Road, replacing it with a food store and 68-space car park.

Tandridge council has already been inundated with dozens of objections, while a 503-signature petition against the proposal has been collected.

On Tuesday, residents braved the rain to vent their anger at a public demonstration.

Julie Shapland is the lollipop lady in adjoining Tithepit Shaw Lane – where about 2,000 pupils attend either Warlingham School or Hamsey Green Primary School. She said: "At least two children have been in accidents in recent years.

"Having a supermarket next door, with lots more delivery lorries and shoppers' cars, will make things worse and put children in more danger."

Justin Wood, of Crewes Avenue, Warlingham, said: "We already have a Sainsbury's, a Londis and a Co-op in Warlingham – plus other Londis and Co-op stores in Hamsey Green.

"Why do we need another big store?

"It could make smaller retailers throw in the towel."

Kathryn Redington, also of Crewes Avenue, said: "We have two excellent schools here.

"If potential parents see all the traffic problems this store would bring, it could put them off sending their children here."

The head teacher at Warlingham School, Alison Woodhouse, called for a lorry ban in Tithepit Shaw Lane if the store plan proceeds.

She said: "The prospect of more lorries coming down that road at the same time that hundreds of pupils are coming out is an absolute nightmare. It really isn't wide enough to cope with this sort of traffic."

Most of the 503 signatories are from Warlingham, Whyteleafe and Caterham.

William Barker, Lidl's property portfolio manager, said: "The store will be located within the primary shopping area, and will be accessible by alternative transport methods.

"The store will enhance consumer choice in the locality and allow customers to make multi-purpose trips."

The plans have been submitted to Croydon Council.

Anyone wanting to sign an online petition against the proposals should visit the site www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions and type in Hamsey Green into the search box.

PALACE Ladies picked up their first point in the league this season with a hard-fought draw at home to Milton Keynes Dons last Sunday.

Both teams started strongly, while Palace defenders Sam Burton and Katherine Earl had to be alert to a few dangerous attacks from the away side.

But Palace took the lead after 20 minutes when Njina Campous was played through by Claire Williams, and the ball fell into the path of Shedean Dyer, who gave the keeper no chance from just inside the box.

It could have been 2-0 soon before the break when a great move down the left saw Williams deliver into the box, but Dyer was unable to get on the end of it.

The visitors came out fighting in the second half and put Palace under intense pressure, but some fine defending ensured they held on to their lead.

However, that was until the 60th minute when the Dons created space on the edge of the box to fire a shot past Palace goalkeeper Sam Sharp.

Palace held on soon after with the away team looking to grab a second, but they could have taken the lead again when Hannah Mayhew got on the end of a Jade McPhun cross, only for the keeper to make a fine save.

Amy Wight came on for her first-team debut in place of Earl in defence, while both McPhun and Williams went close in the dying stages, but they had to settle for a well-earned point in the end.

TWO goals from Jason Thompson and one from Claudio De Almedia was enough to clinch another three points for Croydon in their 3-2 win over Ash United last Saturday.

The visitors nearly scored early on when Liam Pearson outstripped the Croydon defence but goalkeeper Francis Ameyaw stood firm and saved well.

But after just eight minutes, the Trams took the lead. A Ryan Fowler free-kick from the left was met firmly by Thompson, whose header crept just inside the post.

After four games in eight days, the Arena pitch held up very well and Croydon were by far the better side in the first-half.

Croydon nearly doubled their advantage when Josh Cover fired a speculative effort just over and Taylor Smith cut in and fired a left-foot shot that Mike Brawley pawed away for a corner.

Then Grant powerfully headed a Keimon Robinson corner just wide, while Karl Douglin saw a shot blocked, which fell to Grant, who hammered a hooked shot towards goal but goalkeeper Brawley did brilliantly to tip the ball away.

But they did find the net again on 17 minutes when Thompson let fly with a ferocious shot into the corner of Brawley's goal from outside the box.

With moments of the half remaining, Cover made inroads into the Ash penalty area and laid the ball off to Sean Rivers who, with an open goal beckoning, saw a shot hacked off the line.

The Trams went off the boil in the second half but there were still further chances for Grant, Rivers, Thompson, Douglin and debutant substitute Marlon Wallen.

With the clock ticking down, Ash were suddenly back in the game when they scored in the 81st and 83rd minutes.

A typical goalmouth scramble finished up with Karl Dalloway poking the ball into net after it had ping-ponged around inside the box.

Then Phil Hornbrook got on the end of Jimmy Norman's free-kick with a header to bring the scores level.

However, Croydon scored the winner just a minute later. Smith penetrated down the left, picked out Wallen on the right and he squared for in-form Claudio De Almeida to poke the ball home.

WARLINGHAM recorded a good 20-10 victory away at Heathfield & Waldron last Saturday.

The visitors were gifted a try straight from the kick-off when Ben Wimble tapped the ball forward and pounced over the line. Fly-half Joe McEvoy added the conversion.

From the restart, Warlingham kicked long into the Heathfield half and when they forced the home side to infringe, McEvoy slotted the penalty to put clear water between the two sides.

McEvoy inflicted more pain with a second penalty before the home side scrambled themselves a try on the blind side when their scrum-half was given too much space by the Warlingham back row.

The Heathfield forwards sensed that Warlingham were relaxing and, after a 20-metre maul, were unlucky not to score a try.

Close to half-time, winger Jon Osborne darted through the defence and gave Wimble a peach of a pass to score his second try under the posts.

And McEvoy had his kicking boots on to add the extra two points.

Heathfield were again unlucky not to score in the second half when their winger chipped ahead and a chasing player scored, only to be penalised for being in front of the kicker.

But their persistence was rewarded when they forced a five-metre scrum, from which a blind side move gave them their second unconverted try.

ON A rain-sodden day in south London, Streatham-Croydon comfortably beat Law Society 36-7.

While the score would suggest a comfortable victory for the home side, it was the visitors who scored the afternoon's first points.

As the ball was moved along an advancing backline, an opportunist Law Society centre intercepted a pass to race clear and touch down.

However, the returning Aaron Brown on the left-wing fed flanker Maika Baleilovu to dive over in the corner to score Streatham's first points.

Another try from second-row Walter Pretorious followed, but there was nasty injury to centre Andreas Kenny, who was replaced by Chris Geary.

The second-half was a veritable feast of well-executed tries and deft handling, and the scoring was opened by a try from the man of the match, Seb Russell-Sharam.

Wriggling his way to the line, he was the catalyst to much of Streatham's second half success, with good distribution feeding the strong runners of Streatham's sizeable pack.

Captain Toussaint atoned for an earlier mistake with a virtuoso score of his own and a wonderful team try finished by Brown a couple of minutes later.

Winger Cassemis completed the scoring soon after.

PALACE'S U18 side demolished Manchester City last Saturday at the club's training ground in Beckenham to grab their fifth win in their last six games.

Garry Issott's side are now third in the Barclays U18s Premier League table and they took the lead after 15 minutes when Derek Teiku, who is on trial from Fulham at the moment, received a fantastic through-ball and finished past the City goalkeeper with ease to continue his impressive form.

It got even better just a few minutes later when Connor Dymond found the net from the penalty spot after Alistair Gordon had been brought down in the box.

And the penalty king scored his second soon after in impressive style, back-heeling a cross from Jerome Williams on the left to beat the City custodian.

But the deficit was reduced before the break when City forced Palace defender Ryan Inniss to put the ball past his own goalkeeper David Gregory when attempting to clear a dangerous cross.

No changes were made at half-time, but the young Eagles continued to press forward with some eye-catching football.

And they extended their lead shortly into the second period thanks to Javen Palmer.

The striker received a pass from Elijan Gabsi and found the bottom corner with a fantastic finish.

City then hit the post in a bid to get back into the game, but they did make the scoreline a bit more respectable when Joe Nuttall headed past Gregory to make it 4-2.

Despite the slight hope for the away side, Palace went back on the offensive and finally got a fifth goal when Inniss atoned for his own goal with a powerful header.

It's the third time this season the Palace youngsters have scored five goals having crushed Liverpool and Middlesbrough earlier this season.

The match against City was their last of 2012 with a break now until the start of the new year.

Crystal Palace U18s: Gregory, Gordon, Williams, Innis, Croll, Dymond, Gabsi, Grey, Tieku, Palmer, Johnson-Cole.

PALACE came away with a hard-fought point on Tuesday after a goalless draw at Hull City.

The Eagles should have won it at the death when Wilfried Zaha was denied in a one-on-one by goalkeeper David Stockdale, but the hosts would have been kicking themselves for not putting the game to bed after completely dominating the first half.

And Eagles boss Ian Holloway admits he was happy to head back to the dressing room at the break without conceding, but felt Hull did their homework on shutting out Zaha and Yannick Bolasie.

"That was as good a 0-0 as I've ever been involved with," he said following the game at the KC Stadium.

"To be fair, Hull had the better of the first half. I felt we didn't get to grips with their shape and what they were doing.

"In the end, I felt quite relieved to be 0-0 at half-time. The second half, the longer it went on, again, the more imposing we got and we found it very difficult to get out of the shackles Steve's [Bruce] team put on my two widemen.

"It took that long in the game and a fair few fouls for Wilfried to get out of the prison he was in and almost win it for us."

Indeed, Palace could have stunned the home crowd at the end through chances from both wingers, while Hull could have won it themselves only for Julian Speroni to pull off a stunning save to deny Aaron Mclean.

"The bit that summed it up was when Aaron Wilbraham flicked it on and Bolasie was just in behind and he's just pulled his shot inches wide," Holloway said.

"Then Hull go up the other end and we get a brilliant save from Julian, so hopefully people who watch this Championship week in, week out, will know that there were two pretty good teams there on show.

"That's why we're both where we are at the moment, there's hardly anything between us and we'll take that point and see what we can do against Brighton now."

Jermaine Easter came in for the suspended Glenn Murray as Palace continued with the same shape playing a lone man in attack.

The hosts had the first chance of the game through Robbie Brady's dangerous cross into the six-yard area, before Bolasie was played in on the right side of the box and forced a good low save from Fulham loanee Stockdale.

Sone Aluko should have put Hull ahead when he got in behind the Palace defence and found himself bearing down on Speroni, but his effort went across goal.

Robert Koren went close from a corner midway through the half when he got in front of his marker to glance a header just wide of the near post, but the former West Bromwich Albion playmaker then missed an absolute sitter after 26 minutes.

A ball in from the right took a deflection off Aluko into his path, but he somehow scooped the ball over from six yards with the goal at his mercy.

Next to go close was Stephen Quinn, who was inches away from giving the home side a deserved lead when he volleyed just past the far post.

Koren went close again when he capitalised on a loose ball and sent a low curling shot towards goal, but the ball took a deflection for a corner.

Palace were very lucky to be going into half-time without conceding to a rampant Hull side.

Quinn had the first chance of the second period when he burst into the box and forced Speroni into a good stop and then Aluko bent a free-kick over the bar.

Wilbraham came on for Easter on the hour mark and looked bright immediately.

Speroni stayed big moments later when he denied Koren at the back post, but then came the big talking point.

Zaha found himself through on goal and was taken out by what looked like the last man for Hull, but the referee only brandished a yellow card.

The decision seemed to kick the Eagles into action and with the clock ticking down, Bolasie could have snatched all three points when he pounced on a weak back-pass but drilled a low shot inches past the post.

Speroni then produced a wonder save to deny Hull substitute Mclean.

The striker turned Damien Delaney in the box and shot low towards the bottom corner, but somehow the Argentine stuck out a hand to palm the ball past the post.

Mclean tested Speroni again with a firm header, but Zaha should have won the contest with the last kick of the game.

The winger received the ball in the box, turned in and out of a couple of defenders and found himself in front of goal with only Stockdale to beat, but he pulled off a great save.

However, the Eagles can take some heart from a positive display in the final 20 minutes and hopefully start a lot better at Selhurst for the big one on Saturday against Brighton & Hove Albion.

PUB chain Wetherspoon has admitted this week "it is minded" to close the Ship of Fools in West Croydon.

But spokesman Eddie Gershon said the London Road pub will remain open while negotiations with Sainsbury's over the lease of the building continue and this "could be for a number of months yet".

It is understood Wetherspoon is surrendering the lease.

Last week Wetherspoon refused to comment on the news that the pub, which has just been named pub of the year in the council's Best Bar None awards, was shutting, despite the fact Sainsbury's said contracts had been signed.

This week, Sainsbury's has been forging ahead with their proposals to convert the pub to a Local store.

The company has submitted an application to the council for a licence to serve alcohol at the store from 6am to midnight.

It has also applied to install a new shopfront on the building complete with cash machine, new signage and an air conditioning unit at the rear.

Sainsbury's does not need planning permission for the change of use from a pub to a shop.

MOVES to hand the running of Croydon's libraries to John Laing Services will come under the spotlight at a meeting of the council's scrutiny and overview committee next week.

Laing was chosen as the council's preferred bidder in a private session of the corporate services committee last week. But the contract cannot be confirmed until after the scrutiny committee has decided whether to ask the full council to reconsider the decision.

The "call-in" of the decision has come from both Conservative and Labour councillors.

Councillor Steve Hollands, the Conservative chair of scrutiny, said: "We are asking for more detail about some of the specifications of the contract."

Because the financial details of what would be an eight-year contract with Laing are not being revealed, most of Wednesday's meeting will be conducted without press and public present.

But Labour's criticisms are understood to concentrate on the belief that the contract does not provide value for money.

Croydon received a bid from Greenwich Leisure, but it was ruled out because while it was lower than Laing's, it did not meet Croydon's criteria for HR, training and service development.

In addition to value for money the Labour referral is understood to also suggest that the decision to outsource directly conflicted with public consultation which urged the council to leave well alone.

Labour also claims the decision lacked transparency, that the Tories had no mandate to privatise the service and the contract does not specify if staff will be paid the London Living Wage.

A report being presented to the public part of the meeting on Wednesday will say the new contract will improve the level of provision while delivering savings and efficiencies and avoiding library closures.

NETBALL: All Stars emerged victorious in their top of the table clash against Croham in Division Two last Saturday, winning 55-51.

Both teams fought hard against each other and despite Croham winning three out of the four quarters, it wasn't quite enough to snatch a win.

The defensive duo of Sarah Kebbell and Bev Walford worked tirelessly in the circle for Croham, while Nicky Clarke won player of the match.

Elsewhere, CMO A continued a good run of form to beat Karisma A in the Premier Division.

CMO maintained a good start to the match and excellent defending from goalkeeper Jenny Knight-Simpson gave the attacking players the chance to gain victory, which they did 32-26. Meanwhile, Coombe beat Demonettes A 47-28.

In Division Three, Portas B were disappointed to lose a tight game away against Phoenix.

Phoenix maintained a small lead throughout the match, but pulled away in the latter half of the game to win 35-26.

Results: Division One - United A 51-27 HS B, Chequers B 18-18 Crickets. Division Three - Chequers D 28-24 Roundwood D. Division Four - Saw United B 35-25 HS C. Division Five - Saw HS D 21-21 Demonettes D.

CHRISTMAS came early in the borough last week as festive lights were switched on all over Croydon.

Selsdon, Sanderstead and New Addington held switch-on events that saw residents from all over join together to celebrate the beginning of the festive season.

The Selsdon lights, which are completely funded by the Selsdon Residents' Association, were a particular success with more than 800 people braving the weather and turning up for Friday's event.

Deputy chairman Linda Morris said: "It was a great crowd and it got us feeling really festive.

"We gave out 400 balloons to children and the choir at Greenvale School put on a great show.

"Retired head teacher Aline Holdsworth switched on the lights and she almost got a bigger cheer than Santa.

"It is the association's pleasure to fund the lights every year and this year I think they are more spectacular than ever."

New Addington also switched on its lights, despite less than perfect weather. Kirsty Pearce, from the New Addington Pathfinders, said: "It was very wet and windy but we made the most of it as we always do.

"We had a great stall and tombola and everyone got involved.

"Everyone did a fabulous job as they do every year and now everyone is feeling in a rather Christmassy mood."

Sanderstead's lights have also been switched on in Limpsfield Road.

Sanderstead Residents' Association chairman Dennis Eldridge said: "We always like to put lights up for Christmas, it puts everyone in a good mood."

A CHILDREN'S care home could soon be opened in Thornton Heath now the project has been awarded planning permission.

Plans for the five-children home at 124 Leander Road were approved by councillors last Thursday, despite being opposed by all 14 neighbours who responded to the plans.

Neighbours had told the planning committee they feared the children may cause trouble in the area and the home would be a magnet for gangs.

Charles Sackey, the social worker setting up the home, said their concerns were based on stereotypes.

He told the committee: "All the things we have heard are usual stereotypes about young people.

"I think the chance for the children to live within the community is very important for their future."

Councillor Maggie Mansell, who represents Norbury, said: "These kind of small care homes are important in order to help socialise and normalise the experience of young children, many of whom have had quite traumatic experiences.

"To be successful within a neighbourhood setting, it is important that all the neighbours have a phone number and know who to contact."

A BUILDER who inhumanely slaughtered a pig for food has been convicted of animal cruelty.

Ricky Clarkson, of Bradmore Way, Coulsdon, killed the ginger Tamworth sow in his back yard, Bromley Magistrates' Court heard.

The 48-year-old was convicted of illegal slaughter, causing unnecessary suffering to and failing to get treatment for an animal in his care.

RSPCA inspector Kate Fletcher said: "This poor pig would have suffered terribly. There is no excuse for this."

Clarkson was banned from keeping pigs and chickens for 12 months and ordered to pay a fine of £1,165.

He had chopped parts of the pig stored in his freezer when the RSPCA visited in May after being called by a neighbour, the court heard.

He told the inspector he had driven a nail through the pig's head, but later changed his story to say he had slit its throat.

Mr Clarkson said he planned to eat the pig meat.

RSPCA officers also found another ginger Tamworth sow in the garden), who was taken into RSPCA care.