THE parents of a baby who will never walk are appealing for help in fundraising to give the youngster a chance at a normal life.

George Tappenden is only 15 months old but his parents have already been given the tragic news that he is suffering from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a muscle-wasting disease which means he may not live to see his eighth birthday.

Mother Lucy Frost, 33, from Shirley, only found out about the disorder two weeks ago after frequent trips to the hospital sparked by concerns George was unable to bear his own weight.

His legs have already become immobile and he will never walk.

Miss Frost, along with her partner Anthony Tappenden, are now appealing for Croydon residents and businesses to donate to George so he can afford vital equipment for a normal life.

She said: "We only found out two weeks ago it was SMA and since then I have been trying to read up on it.

"It was a complete shock, it's overwhelming and very upsetting. I want to give George everything I can but I have a two-year-old daughter as well so there just isn't enough time in the day.

"There will be expensive things to pay for; a wheelchair alone costs £21,000. It is things like that and a special bike and equipment that we need to raise money for.

"I want him to be able to do normal little boy things, I don't want him to have to watch his sister ride off on her bike and he not be able to join her."

Miss Frost and Mr Tappenden are hoping people will dig deep and help George by donating equipment or money to help him lead as normal life as possible.

He has SMA type 2, meaning he could live from anywhere from eight years old to into his twenties. SMA can affect children so badly that they don't reach two years.

Miss Frost said: "My partner and I will dedicate our lives to George and our other children and will make him as self-sufficient as we can. There is lots George can and will achieve and we have every faith that he will do this.

"He will be given every opportunity to excel. SMA children are known for intelligence so there is no reason he can't do great things academically.

"It's a cruel and disgusting disease but he could not have had a better family to make his life as wonderful as possible."

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is the leading genetic killer of infants and toddlers. The disease afflicts an estimated one in every 6,000 live births. Worldwide, 13,000 lives are lost every year. More than 25,000 Americans have SMA. The international scientific community agrees that of all neuromuscular diseases, SMA is the closest to developing a treatment or a cure. SMA does not affect sensation and intellectual activity in patients. It commonly is observed that patients with SMA are unusually bright and sociable. The family will be holding a ball at Addington Palace in May to raise money for George.

If you would like to help e-mail luc25@hotmail.co.uk or call 07523 289326.

THE two main contenders for the redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre could be asked to enter a planning "beauty contest" to break the impasse over the centre's future.

The Advertiser understands Croydon Council, with support from the Greater London Authority, is in the final preparation stages before launching a public competition to find a preferred bidder for the redevelopment.

The news comes in the wake of Westfield director of development John Burton's claims there is a "tsunami of investment" poised for the town once a deal is signed.

Realistically, the competition is expected to centre on Westfield and Hammerson, which both have plans for £1 billion schemes to rebuild and regenerate the centre, offering new retail space, leisure facilities and housing. It is, however, likely that Delancey, which took over Minerva and which has land interests in the now-closed Allders store site, will also be offered the opportunity to take part.

No details of exactly how the competition will be run have come to light but it seems it could run separately from the normal planning procedures.

The Advertiser understands the council will set down specifications for what it wants to see from any redevelopment, covering how it will impact on and help achieve the authority's ambitions for town centre regeneration.

Companies taking part will be required to present a detailed response, which will then be analysed by the council before it chooses its preferred bidder.

That choice would be binding on all parties involved.

It is not clear whether the competition would take place before or after the council has decided on any redevelopment planning applications.

Insiders say a public competition is a rare development tool but the council's hierarchy believes it is the best way of avoiding a protracted legal battle over the ownership of the freehold and leasehold of the centre.

It is understood the council hopes to avoid another huge regeneration delay like the one that has plagued Stanhope/Schroder's Ruskin Square site next to East Croydon Station in the past.

In simplest terms, having just one developer on board would make the necessary Compulsory Purchase Order negotiations to secure ownership easier.

Neither Hammerson nor Westfield would make any comment this week but both companies hinted they knew something was in the offing.

A LONDON 2012 bronze medallist passed on some tips to pupils during a visit to New Addington last week.

Alex Danson, part of the GB women's hockey team, dropped into Applegarth School on Thursday, November 29.

Ms Danson, who was the joint leading goal-scorer at the London Olympics, led the school's assembly before treating two classes of children to a hockey masterclass.

Ms Danson, who has earned 183 international caps, said: "I had such a wonderful reception at Applegarth. I really enjoyed meeting everyone and hopefully inspired some children to take up hockey or another sport they enjoy.

"I was so impressed with the hockey skills of Year Two. They listened so carefully and had so much enthusiasm and brilliant questions, especially about the Olympic Games."

Meanwhile, the school has applied to become the estate's first academy.

On Monday, governors passed a resolution to submit an application to become an academy sponsored by the Striving Together for Excellence in Partnership (STEP) Academy Trust.

CRYSTAL Palace midfielder Mile Jedinak is set to miss this Saturday's match at Birmingham City after collecting five bookings so far this season.

The Australian has skippered the side very well this campaign in place of long-term injury victim Paddy McCarthy but his suspension will be a blow to manager Ian Holloway.

His booking in the 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest in September was not recorded by the Football League, with many sources claiming he had only received four yellow cards so far.

The 28-year-old has scored once this season in 21 games and his presence in the middle of the park will be missed.

A number of players could be given the armband for the match, including former Blues loan defender Peter Ramage, Damien Delaney, Owen Garvan or Kagisho Dikgacoi.

Follow me on Twitter for the latest news, exclusives and live match updates @AdvertiserSport

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And now you can watch our exclusive away video clips on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/AdvertiserSport

GLENN BODEN proved he was the better man in all departments when he kicked off his Queensbury Boxing League career with an impressive victory over the experienced Robin Deakin at the Effingham Park Hotel in West Sussex.

The talented 26-year-old, from New Addington, was entering the contest off the back of an impressive run outside of the league, during which he had amassed a perfect undefeated ledger after eight fights.

And Boden continued his impressive run by beating the 50-fight veteran to announce his arrival as one of the most exciting lightweight boxers in the UK's premier league.

From the opening bell of the contest, it was clear that former professional Deakin was intent on trying to drag the New Addington native into a toe-to-toe scrap as he showboated around the ring, goading Boden with his hands held low and tongue sticking out.

But Boden showed great composure as he calmly walked forward and unleashed fast combinations that got the attention of the showman.

As the contest progressed, it was clear that Boden was the superior operator in all departments as he systematically stalked his man around the ring, catching him to both head and body with some hurtful looking shots.

And he also showed he could take it back from Deakin as he was caught with the occasional wild swinging counter that he walked straight through.

As the final bell rang out, it was clear that the only way Deakin was in with a chance of winning the contest was if the judges were awarding him points for showboating, but it was not the case and Boden was declared the winner by a unanimous points decision.

"I think I performed really well in there and I'm very happy with my debut in the league," said Boden.

"He was obviously trying to drag me into a war with his antics and I just kept my composure, boxed well and I think it was clear I dominated every round.

"The one thing I was surprised about was how strong he was. I hit him with some big shots to the head and body, which would have stopped most lightweights out there, so I had to give him some credit for that.

"Now I'm just looking forward to getting straight back into the gym and keeping busy and let's see what the league have in store for me next year."

With Boden's fight scheduled to be shown on satellite sports channel Eurosport early this month, he looks all set to become the next big boxing star to emerge from Croydon.

Since 2008, when I bought a house here with my fiancee. We currently live in Addiscombe.

The best thing about Croydon is....

Its community, diversity and vibrancy. The growing cluster of people who have an infectious sense of positivity for Croydon's future and have the town's best interests at heart. Too many people to name individually but Fiona (Woodcock), the market inspector is a great asset. Lorraine (Thompson), the PCSO, is another.

The worst thing about Croydon is...

The lack of diversity in the nighttime economy and the negative impact it has on the town centre. The Home Office immigration directorate being based here – their presence has a negative impact on the town.

My perfect day in Croydon would consist of...

A lazy wander through the centre of town across an above ground River Wandle. I would spend hours browsing traditional bookshops, antique shops and clothes shops before stopping at a bustling street market with an abundance of street food.

One thing people don't know about Croydon is...

It's going to be the next Silicon Valley.

If I was in charge of Croydon for a day, I would...

Take over the top floor of all town centre car parks and convert them into themed urban community gardens to make up for our lack of green space in the centre of town.

I would sign a deal to push the bus stations at West and East Croydon underground and put parks and public squares above them. I would also reopen the Clocktower and David Lean Cinema.

If I could sum up Croydon in three words, they would be...

Community. Hope. Potential.

Now seriously, this is no joke, people. Fast approaching is my 31st birthday and I have still yet to be the established yummy mummy that I am supposed to be.

Granted, the rollercoaster of family life alongside a credit crunch or two has not helped the grey hair situation around here, but I think I'm going to give this yummy business one last go.

Flawless school runs and skyscraper heels are waiting for me. I can smell them – or is that youngest son's burnt toast?

Either way I will be the "Weetabix-smeared mother" no more.

I have decided to tackle Project Yummy 2013 head on. There is no point in beating around the bush.

The first step towards yummydom has to be a new and improved school run image. Obviously this will take some work.

The man has dropped darling daughter and youngest son en route to work, lunch has been eaten and baby is sleeping soundly. Herein lies the perfect opportunity to glam oneself with minimal distraction. I decide to stick on some music – after all, no dramatic transformation can be made without a suitable soundtrack, right?

An hour later and I am still knee deep in old CDs. My enthusiasm momentarily interrupted by tunes I have not heard in ages, I wallow in child-free nostalgia. Just as I think I have found "the" music to transform to… baby wakes!

Strolling down the hall I glance at my watch; in my old school revival I hadn't realised the time. Only ten minutes to get to the playground.

Grabbing keys and baby I glance down at my maternity leggings covered in a fetching shade of Weetabix crust. Guess there's always tomorrow…

Follow Veronica on Twitter @wannabeyummy and read next week's Advertiser for the next instalment of her column.

However, 16-year-olds are able get married, raise a child, or join the Army. We can also work; therefore you can pay taxes that go to the government. Still, you can't vote until you're 18.

Alex Salmond, the First Minister for Scotland, has invited 16 and 17-year-olds to vote on Scotland's independence, a decision which has sparked much debate.

Philip Cowley, a professor of parliamentary government at Nottingham University, believes that 16 and 17-year-olds are not "mature" enough to vote.

Kate Shillabeer, 16, who lives in Addington, agrees. She said: "The majority of 16-year-olds don't care enough to inform themselves."

Professor Vernon Bogdanor, of King's College, London, is among those who thinks lowering the voting age will encourage teenagers to take an interest in politics.

Hannah Sherrard Owen, 16, of Wallington, agrees. She said: "We have lived long enough to understand the impact political policies have on us, whether that be in healthcare, tax, or education.

"The next government's resolutions will affect us, especially when they feature university fees."

Dean Chalk, 15, from Croydon, believes that 16-year-olds should only be able to vote if they do well in their exams. He added: "There should at least be some kind of academic entry point, like you need an A or B in some subjects at GCSE level to be able to vote.

"Otherwise some people might not know what they're talking about or voting for."

Some political analysts say lowering the vote could help flagging turnout. The 65.1 per cent of eligible voters who bothered to have their say in the 2010 general election was an all-time low.

If we allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote, we could add a group of about half a million open young minds to the process.

Croydon South MP Richard Ottaway, however, believes lowering the voting age would be "inappropriate".

He said: "In my opinion, boys and girls at that age do not have the maturity, judgement or experience to decide the future direction of the country.

"That is not to say that there aren't many articulate young people who feel passionately about issues that affect their peers and their communities.

"Nor is it fair to say that adults make good use of their right to vote – in my view, there are too many who don't engage in politics and don't even bother to vote.

"But even the scientists tell us the brain only reaches maturity in the late 20s."

Perhaps Mr Ottaway has a point. More than half of the population aged 18 to 24 didn't vote in the last elections – so why should we grant the vote to an even younger age group?

Last week Mike Webb, chairman of Allianz Global Assistance, told the Develop Croydon conference that he may be forced to leave the borough as the pool of middle-class people traditionally recruited to its business was drying up.

Following the Advertiser's report, a debate has raged on our website, with many residents and business owners putting their views forward about class and what role it still plays in 21st century Croydon.

Mr Barwell, MP for Croydon Central, said this week that although class should not matter, providing workers have the relevant skills, more affluent people are needed in Croydon.

He said: "My own view is that it's not really an issue of class.

"There are two main issues: one is we have to make sure we have highly skilled people; that clearly is important.

"The second thing is that over the last 20 to 30 years Croydon has gone into economic decline, so we have more deprivation.

"We have to reverse that deprivation by bringing more affluent people to live here. However, I don't think it's about class background.

"If someone is from a working class background and they have the skills then great, but we do need to bring more affluent people to the borough."

One resident told the Advertiser that he feels class is now a redundant idea.

Mechanic Richard Hough, who runs Autoclutch next to Norwood Junction station said: "What is class? I don't understand it.

"I would describe myself as working class because I do a manual job, but then what about political parties?

"Should I vote Labour just because I am working class? Because I don't, I vote Conservative.

"JK Rowling is one of the richest women in the world but she is a strong Labour supporter – should that change just because she's rich now? It is all ridiculous. I think it is a complete cop-out and what Mr Webb said is ridiculous.

"Immigrants come here and often have very professional jobs like doctors, but are they seen as a lower class? I just don't understand it.

"I think it is pathetic and an absolute insult. I would employ someone who lived in a tower block or who lived in a big house in Purley, as long as they had the skills."

Croydon resident Mawusi Akpala, 33, believes that if you get up and go to work every morning, you are, by definition, part of the working class.

She said: "I think the middle classes and the working classes are starting to merge.

"It's very easy to be one or the other nowadays.

"Working class used to be something to be proud of but now people seem to think it sounds better if they are middle class.

"Really, if you get up and go to work every day and earn money then you're the same as everyone else."

Her friend Carol Yard, 45, agreed. She said: "I think this class thing is just a way to divide us. These so-called middle class people have bought into the idea that they are somehow better but really we are all the same.

"They are still working and we shouldn't be ashamed to stand up and say we are working class."

But pensioner Anne Giles, from Selsdon, believes that the class structure is still alive and well.

She said: "Your class all depends on your profession.

"I agree with what Mr Webb has said in a way because he is not looking for someone who is working class, for example a builder, he is looking for a professional, someone who has a degree, who would be more middle class.

"If that is what he wants then he has every right to ask for that.

"However, I do think that it would be very wrong if he just didn't want to hire a working class person based on their class – as long as they have the relevant skills they should be hired."

THE famous BRIT School – which has nurtured singers including Adele and Leona Lewis – has been targeted by a gang of muggers.

Police have confirmed 10 muggings have been reported around the area of the school, in The Crescent, Selhurst, since November 19.

And one student has claimed up to 75 pupils have been targeted in the past year.

The school is working with police to improve safety in the area, amid fears youngsters are being targeted for the high-value equipment they carry around.

Some have even resorted to carrying pretend phones for fear of being robbed.

In an e-mail to the Advertiser, student Eleanor Tilleard wrote: "Our school is being seriously targeted by local gangs who are robbing students of phones, wallets and even oyster cards.

"The situation has escalated to a ridiculous level.

"It is estimated that more than 75 muggings have taken place around the area of Edith Road in the past year.

"So far the muggers have not been violent to anyone and students have been under the instruction to not attempt to 'be brave' and stand up to them – for their own safety.

"I, and many others, feel that not enough is being done to tackle the problem."

A petition calling for extra police officers within the area has been signed by 800 people.

Newly-elected Croydon North MP Steve Reed said he plans to present the concerns to City Hall.

He added: "It's dreadful. We know robbery is going up across the borough and we know there has been a spate of attacks around the BRIT School.

"What they need when there has been an increase in robberies is to increase the number of (police) patrols."

A spokeswoman for the BRIT School said: "We have been communicating with students, parents and staff as to how they can minimise risk and the school is taking measures to aid prevention of these crimes by working closely with the police and council to improve safety in the neighbourhood.

"It is paramount that our students feel safe.

"Therefore, in addition, we have made staff available to walk groups to the station in the evening and increased staff presence in the local streets at lunchtime and after school."

Police explained that there have been ten offences of robbery and theft in that area reported to them since November 19.

The force has increased the number of patrols in the area, using both plainclothes and uniformed officers.

A spokesman for Croydon Police added: "Our advice to students is to keep your valuables concealed and stay vigilant when you are out and about, and to call 999 if you see anybody acting suspiciously in the area.

"We also think there may have been people who have been a victim of a robbery or mugging and haven't reported it to police, and we would encourage any person in this situation to report it to us by calling 101."

Two girls, aged 16 and 17, were arrested on November 30 in connection with one and three robberies respectively.

They have been bailed until January 11, pending further inquiries.

AMATEUR golfer George Elliot, who is from South Croydon, is currently out in Mexico competing in the final of the Virgin Atlantic PGA National Pro-Am Championship.

The 56-year-old has been paired with Daniel Young from Woldingham Golf Club to contest the 36-hole showpiece with 15 other clubs in the prestigious SkyCaddie and BMW-supported £30,000 final, held at the Moon Palace Golf and Spa Resort in Cancun.

And he revealed that he's only got back into golf after his work took him away from the United Kingdom.

"I gave up golf for a few years when I went to the Middle East where I was working on stone fittings, including the ones at Riyadh Airport where you'll see a lot of marble," he said.

"I helped provide fittings for the rich and famous, but when I returned to this country, I took up golf again as I'd played as a youngster and it was always something I wanted to come back to."

Meanwhile, his golf partner Young used to be on the books of Bristol City and Cheltenham Town Football Clubs as a youngster, but injuries forced him out of the game.

"I started out as a footballer, but I was playing in centre midfield and getting a few injuries, so when I was 20 years old, I decided to study exercise sciences at the University of Gloucester," he said.

"I made the decision to have a complete career change in about 2003 and the degree is something I've been able to use in my golf."

Furthermore, Elliott will see some familiar faces in Mexico with Surrey National Golf Club also through to the final.

He said: "They're only down the road from us and we play matches against them regularly so there's already a bit of friendly rivalry going on."

NEARLY a third of care homes in the south of the borough are failing patients and residents in one or more key standard, an Advertiser investigation has found.

Of 42 homes inspected by the Care Quality Commission in Purley, Kenley, Coulsdon, Selsdon, Sanderstead and South Croydon within the last year, almost one in three – 13 – failed to meet one or more standards that residents have a "right to expect".

Shortfalls in care include not meeting "standards of treating people with respect and involving them in their care", missing targets for "standards of providing care, treatment and support which meets people's needs" and failing to maintain "standards of caring for people safely and protecting them from harm".

Many more homes failed in one or more key standard during their last health watchdog inspection more than one year ago.

Campaigners for better care say the findings paint a "dire" picture for sick and elderly people at a time when savings in care provision are set to be enforced.

Among those that are failing in one or more key standard are homes which charge elderly people up to £800 a week.

Stuart Routledge, chief executive of Age UK Croydon, said: "It is appalling that any nursing home should fail to protect the dignity and respect of their patients and residents.

"This survey underpins the urgency for social care funding reform so that those older people who struggle daily with chronic ill health, frailty and disability have the peace of mind that they will be well cared for at their time of need.

"In particular, this shows the dire consequences of a social care system that has been under increasing financial pressure over the last eight years and in many areas is now financially stripped to the bone.

"Staff across health and care services have a professional and moral duty to make sure the dignity of their patients and residents is enshrined in every action. This means involving people in decisions about their care, providing care that treats people with respect and helping people to be as independent possible."

The current bill for elderly care is mostly met by pensioners themselves, with funding rules stating if a person has either £23,000 or more in combined savings and assets, they are required to pay the full cost.

With many older people owning properties worth tens of thousands of pounds by the time they require care, many pay with funds raised from assets or savings.

However, if nursing care is required in addition, a weekly allowance of little more than £100 can be claimed from Croydon Council.

Last year (2011/12) the council spent £14.29 million on subsidising residential and nursing care, including the costs of elderly people with mental illness.

The figures, compiled by the Advertiser by analysing every home inspected since December 2011 on the health watchdog Care Quality Commission's website, also includes homes for mental health, learning disability and physical disability patients and residents.

Croham Place, in South Croydon – a home for people with learning and physical disabilities, according to the CQC website – was the worst performing, with improvements needed in four of the five key standards checked by inspectors.

Last financial year (2011/12) Croydon Council spent £4.77 million on care homes for people with mental illness and £20.18 million for those with learning disabilities.

A council spokesman said: "Funding for individual placements comes from central Government and council tax, with contributions also made by those receiving care.

"This is being reduced but Croydon has been successful in ensuring services are provided efficiently and at the best price.

"For homes that have residents funded by the council, our contract compliance team visits to check homes are providing a high standard of care."

A CQC spokesman said the regulator has a range of powers and measures that can be exercised to ensure standards are maintained.

The spokesman said: "CQC inspectors are trained to check whether services meet the national standards set out in the Health and Social Care Act.

"Inspectors also have access to clinical advisers, practising professionals and experts by experience to provide sector specific advice and support where required.

"Where CQC identifies concerns about a service, these are raised with the management of the service and a report from the inspection is published on our website to inform the public about our findings.

"The action taken depends on the level and type of concerns identified, but all concerns are followed up (generally by subsequent unannounced inspections) to check that services have made the required improvements.

"Where a service fails to take the action required, CQC has a number of enforcement powers which it can use. These range from formal warnings to, as a last resort, cancelling the registration of a service."

People with concerns on any care home standards should contact CQC on 03000 61 61 61.

TIMES for retailers may still be hard, but the Surrey Street area is about to receive a boost with the opening of three new shops.

Within the next few weeks, Surrey Street itself will see the addition of a halal butchers and a 99p store, while close by in High Street, a local fishmonger is intending to expand his empire.

For Batdal Balci, his halal butchers will involve a change of direction, with the new business replacing his kebab shop which operated from the same premises for seven years.

It will also revive a bit of Surrey Street history, being located in what used to be known as Butchers' Row.

Mr Balci has named his shop Erciyes, after the tallest mountain in Turkey. It is due to open this week, and will feature home-made Turkish recipe sausages.

He said: "The trade in the kebab shop had been going down and there were other problems which made me decide to do something different."

In addition to the sausages, Mr Balci intends selling a wide range of meat and poultry, including chicken, beef, lamb and goat.

He said: "I will be specialising in halal meat but I am aiming to appeal to everybody because everybody wants to eat quality meat.

"I know there are other butchers in the area but this will be good for the customers because there will be competitive prices."

Tamin Kamrhan has already made a name in the area with his fishmongers in Church Street and a fresh fish stall in the Surrey Street market.

He is now in the process of opening up his largest shop yet, next to The Green Dragon pub.

Mr Kamrhan said: "The shop used to be a gambling arcade but has been closed for around three or four years.

"I am sure opening the new shop will be good for the area.

"It will be better located for my customers who come from the South Croydon area and because it is larger I will be able to sell a wider range of frozen fish."

An opening date has not yet been fixed for the Sam 99p store but the company, which has in the region of 200 outlets across the country, is taking over the large empty premises that was previously the home of Murray's Meat Market.

Fiona Woodcock, the Surrey Street market inspector, said: "This is all good news for the area.

"It is so much better to have nice bright shops rather than people coming into the market area and having to look at shutters."

It includes most things people might need, including an MOT garage, hair salon, pharmacist, doctor's surgery, off-licence and a chippie.

Also, like an increasing number of others, it includes a Tesco Express taking up two storefronts in the middle of the parade.

The red, white and blue lettering went up at numbers 10 to 14 eight years ago and the parade has gradually been reshaped around it.

Jamani Salim, owner of Bywood A-Z Hardware two doors down, was selling fruit and vegetables until Tesco Express came along.

Mr Salim, who lives above the store with his family, said: "We were a greengrocer until Tesco opened. We struggled for three months but what could we do? We had to change. So after six months we changed into a hardware store.

"It takes a lot more investment and hard work. I don't mind hard work, but the investment is a lot."

Across the road, a bustling cafe opened five years ago in a building that used to house a florist.

It is not clear why the florist left, but Bywood Deli owes at least some of its success to not competing with the Tesco Express.

Owner Karen Andrews said: "If anything, Tesco helps, because it means there are more people around. They have got a cash machine outside which brings a lot of people.

"It is also helpful for me as I if I have run out of milk I can go across the road and get some."

A few doors down, Portland Wines is ticking along selling similar products to Tesco – packaged food, household basics and so on. Its owner, Ariyaratnam Sudthaharan, said he was most irked at Tesco having beat him to a major earner, a National Lottery ticket terminal.

"They have got everything," he said. "Even when I wanted to do the lottery in my shop and cannot get it."

The National Lottery says it distributes terminals "in the best locations to offer the best sales opportunities". It tries to spread them out.

Mr Sudthaharan noted that Tesco Express had spelled the end of a Post Office branch inside the shop. "Most of the old people do not like it," he claimed.

Mayur Patel has run Greenchem Pharmacy on the parade since 1982, long enough to watch how Tesco became a big player on the street.

He said: "The supermarket that was there before closed down because the big Tesco in Elmer's End took their trade away.

"Then Tesco Express saved the parade because after the supermarket closed down if Tesco Express had not come, people would go elsewhere."

For his own business, Mr Patel says he does not feel particularly threatened by Tesco, with whom he competes on "about 20 per cent" of his products.

"We cannot always compete on price," he said, "but we can compete on the range and on the advice that we give with it. Our biggest threat is not Tesco but the NHS; they are changing so many things and making it less viable for pharmacies to survive."

He described today's high streets as resembling "fish following a trawler": smaller shops feeding off the markets pulled in by the big brands.

He said: "That is the kind of business ideology: the supermarket brings the people in and then if the people want specific things they will come here."

Mr Salim, of the hardwood store, said he agreed with the assessment to an extent.

He said: "I 60 per cent agree because people come because you need the big name; they always want the big name.

"I am not against Tesco but they want to sell everything. They should sell what they sell and then leave it to other people to sell too, and then other people can survive."

The Tesco Express in Bywood Avenue was one of the busiest shops on the parade on Friday morning.

About ten people scurried in and out in twenty minutes, mostly for just a handful of goods.

Pearl Reed, 84, was carrying a copy of the Daily Mail. She said: "I come here just to get my paper. I used to have to walk further.

"It is convenient for other bits and pieces, too, and they are all right in there. Once a week I go to the big shop."

Roy Sawyer, 74, was walking out of Tesco with a companion.

He said: "It is very awkward for the traffic here with the big lorries for the deliveries.

"But on the other hand we are here doing our bit.

"We are resigned to Tesco. We don't like the loss of little shops but take advantage of the fact that it is cheaper."

• Croydon George Street Express, 30/34 George Street;
• Croydon Leon House Express, Leon House, Croydon;
• Croydon Southend Express, South End Road;
• Croydon Whitehorse Road Express: 111 Whitehorse Road;
• South Norwood Express, 156-162 Portland Road;
• Thornton Heath London Road Express, 1076 London Road;
• Croydon London Road Express: 369-373 London Road;
• Shirley Express, 10/14 Bywood Avenue, Shirley; and
• Coulsdon Express, 2-4 Chipstead Valley Road, Coulsdon

• New Park Esso Express, 847-853 London Road, New Park, Thornton Heath;
• Croydon Esso Express, 23-41 Shirley Road, Croydon;
• Croydon Addiscombe Esso Express, 100-102 Lower Addiscombe Road, Croydon;
• Shirley West Wickham Esso Express, Wickham Road, Shirley

• Purley Road, Purley;
• 32 Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath

• Central Croydon, 19 Whitgift Centre;
• Purley Way, Trafalgar Way;
• Crystal Palace, 120-122 Whitehorse Lane;
• Selsdon, 130 Addington Road, South Croydon;
• Upper Norwood, 66 Westow Street

• George Street Local, 1-3 Suffolk House, George Street;
• Croydon High Street Local, 59 High Street;
• Addiscombe Local, 261 Lower Addiscombe Road;
• South Norwood Portland Road Local, 122 Portland Road

• Site of Blockbusters, 6-8 Purley Parade, High Street, Purley;
• Site of Ship of Fools Pub, 9-11 London Road, Croydon;
• Garage site at 187 Parchmore Road, Thornton Heath

• Saffron Square, Wellesley Road, East Croydon

FOUR girls from Wallington High School for Girls competed at the South East regional tennis finals in Welwyn Garden City recently, but narrowly missed out on reaching the national finals, which are to be held this month.

Catherine Rose, Lily Ghodrati, Alice Kirk and Ella Corby had won against Orleans Park of Middlesex in October to reach the last 16 teams in the country, and they were up against three other top teams from independent schools for a place at the National Finals in Bolton, Lancashire.

The girls, who are all in Year 8 at school, took on New Hall, Ipswich and Sevenoaks, and they excelled in the morning tie, winning all four singles and two doubles.

The top pairing of Ghodrati and Rose, along with Kirk and Corby, showed how they deserved their number one seeding as the breezed through to the last eight teams remaining in the competition.

Ghodrati and Rose remained unbeaten in their singles matches throughout the tournament and they overcame a very strong Sevenoaks side, who then went on to win the remaining two singles matches over Kirk and Corby.

It was a nail-biting finish but the more senior and powerful Sevenoaks players managed to dig deep and win the doubles and denied Wallington the chance to compete in Lancashire.

It has been an excellent year for the girls, who won the Surrey Division at the start of the summer and reaching the regional knockout stages of the AEGON School Team Tennis Annual Tournament.

Head of PE at Wallington Girls, Miss Samantha Harris, was extremely impressed with the standard of tennis played by all the girls, and to have reached this stage of the competition for the first time of entering was remarkable.

NEW laws banning scrap metal cash deals came into force on Monday.

But Croydon South MP Richard Ottaway has said they do not go far enough in tackling metal theft, a problem that has grown in recent years, with family and war memorials, churches and railway signalling equipment all targeted.

It will only be early next year, when his Scrap Metal Dealers' Bill is expected to become law, that Mr Ottaway believes the thieves will have their wings well and truly clipped.

The legislation coming into operation on Monday is limited to cashless deals and only applies to established scrap metal dealers.

Mr Ottaway's Bill goes further, bringing "rag and bone" itinerant traders, car breakers and smelting yards under the law.

In addition to insisting on no cash deals, the Bill also requires all traders to obtain a licence from their local authority and those wanting to sell metal to provide verifiable ID.

Traders breaching the new regulations face unlimited fines.

Commenting on this week's new regulations, Mr Ottaway said: "The cash ban is a major step in the right direction.

"It tackles the root cause of the problem – the lack of a clear audit trail, which allows thieves and rogue scrap metal dealers to trade in stolen scrap metal undetected."

However, he said, the exclusion of mobile collectors, car breakers and smelting yards meant they could continue to exploit the loophole.

Mr Ottaway said: "It is this loophole that my Bill addresses, alongside a raft of tougher penalties and it can't come soon enough."

This week's new measures have been welcomed as a major step forward in tackling metal theft by Paul Crowther, Deputy Chief Constable of the British Transport Police.

He said: "These measures will seriously curtail the market for stolen metal as there will now be a clear audit trail back to those bringing commodities into recycling yards and severe sanctions for those who step out of line."

But he added the measures would not work in isolation.

CRYSTAL Palace co-chairman Steve Parish says the club will do everything they can to gain promotion to the Premier League and that selling their best players is not going to help achieve that.
Speculation surrounding Wilfried Zaha refuses to go away, but Parish, like manager Ian Holloway, wants everyone to concentrate on other matters on the pitch.
"We just want to put a lid on it now," he told Advertiser Sport.
"All I care about is getting promoted. In the end, that's all I care about.
"Wilfried is on a four-and-a-half year contract and every real offer that comes in, we look at it in the context of what's best for our chances of getting promoted.
"Every decision we make, will it help us get promoted? Yes or no? If it's a yes, we'll do it, but if it's a no, we're not going to do it, so that's the test of everything at the moment.
"We want stability and all of our best players available and try to get promoted – that's our goal.
"Everybody else will have to fit in around that."
And with reports suggesting clubs will look to buy the winger before offering to loan him back to Palace isn't something Parish is keen on either.
"It's an idea that doesn't strike me with joy," he said.
"I'm not sure what you would get out of a player."
For the full-page interview with Parish, do not miss Friday's Croydon Advertiser, as he talks about the club supporting a trial to reintroduce standing at football grounds, January transfer targets, the importance of following the team home and away, plus his view on last weekend's coin-throwing incident at Manchester City.

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For the third year running, New Addington Salvation Army Community Church has put on a free pantomime for the community.
Following the success of Cinderella in 2010 and Snow White in 2011, this year the cast and crew took on the traditional English story of Robin Hood, putting on 4 performances to well over 1000 people.

The traditional story was given a few unexpected twists – Robyn was a girl, Maid Marion was Master Marlon and no one who saw them will ever forget Madame Brando and Aunty Mo– aka The Ugly Sisters, whose tribute to the Darcy Bussell& Dawn French ballet scene from The Vicar of Dibley had to be seen to be believed!

None of the cast are professional actors, or even regular amateurs. The cast included, amongst others, a transplantation Doctor, teachers, clerical workers, a hospice nurse, an electrician, a postal worker and even a tax advisor, plus over 20 children. The supporting  front of house, backstage and administrative teams also gave a huge amount of time voluntarily to bring the show to the community,  with around 60 people in total being involved.

Captain Matt Spencer, who leads the church with wife Emma, said 'We wanted to bring some Christmas cheer to the community again this year. The Jubilee, Olympics and Paralympics lifted people's spirits, but times are still hard and we're over the moon that the panto once again gave local people a chance to enjoy a good laugh together and celebrate this community.'

Emma adds 'The panto is our Christmas gift to the community.  This year we invited people, if they wanted to and were able, to bring a small food donation to add to our Food Bank stores to help us as we support local people in crisis both at Christmas time and throughout the year. People were extremely generous, which bodes well for the future , as we're planning to open a Food Bank in New Addington in 2013 as growing numbers of people are struggling in this regard.'

New Addington Salvation Army Community Church has served the people of New Addington and Fieldway for over 50 years. It also runsSingCROnise, New Addington's Community Choir, which regularly participates in the New Addington Carnival and Peoples' Day celebrations and which is open to anyone over the age of 18.

In addition to the free pantomime, the church is holding Community Carol Services this weekend in Fieldway (Timebridge Community Centre, Saturday December 15th 3pm) and New Addington (The ACA, Sunday December 16th 3pm). There will also be 'Carols on the Parade' at 3pm on Sunday 23rd December at New Addington's new 'Town Square' facility, and 'Carols in the Community' – carol singing around Fieldway estate on Christmas Eve, leaving from Timebridge Community Centre at 3pm.