A SEX attacker who wore gloves and a balaclava when he assaulted a woman in New Addington on New Year's Eve is being hunted by police.

The attack took place in Brierley at about 4.30pm and came five days before an incident in Caterham in which a woman was assaulted in an alleyway.

The attack occurred at about 12.45am on Saturday between Whyteleafe Road and Burntwood Lane, Caterham. The victim, a woman in her 20s, was approached by an unknown man who pulled her clothing, causing her to fall to the floor.

She managed to get up and run away to a place of safety, where the incident was reported to the police.

The suspect is described as a white man, aged in his early 20s, about 5ft 9ins tall, of slim build with broad shoulders.

He had stubble on his face and was wearing a dark-coloured hoodie with a thick white zip and dark baggy jeans which were low on the waist.

Police have not confirmed whether the two incidents are linked. Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

THE Advertiser's weatherman, Ian Currie, has once again stuck his neck out to make a year-long prediction.

Mr Currie, of Rickman Hill, Coulsdon, said his forecast for 2012, issued last January, went to plan until April when the heavens opened – again and again. The downpours led to the fifth wettest year in the Croydon area in the past 50 years, with more than 36 inches of rain falling in 12 months.

Looking ahead Mr Currie, 62, who has studied meteorology for half a century, said: "Well, after my forecast last year going more or less to plan until April, when the weather spiralled into watery mayhem, I will have to be even more cautious in releasing this forecast. However, let's have a go!

"It may well turn somewhat colder during the second half of January as the high-pressure moves a little to the north and winds set in from the east.

"The first half of February, too, may be cold as high pressure continues to exert an influence, giving frosty conditions and I cannot rule out some snow, too, so those toboggans hanging up in the shed may get an outing.

"The spring should be average for rainfall and temperature to help the new flowers into bloom with any frosts not too severe.

"The first half of the summer looks rather unsettled and quite breezy with rain and showers at times but the second half of July and August should have enough fine, dry and warm or very warm days to give joy to the holidaymaker.

"Both September and October will be good growing months with mild weather and adequate rain, so summer flowers could continue to bloom as there will be a lack of frost. In November there could well be an early taste of winter with cold conditions mid-month bringing some snow but I expect a mild end.

"December will be a little on the dry side with much cloud but it will be often mild and another snowless Christmas is on the cards but it may be off-white with quiet, foggy conditions."

In an optimistic summary, Mr Currie added: "So, with a bit of luck, 2013 may allow us to dry out somewhat.

"Whatever the weather, may I wish all readers a very pleasant and healthy 2013."

A KENLEY couple have spoken of their horror after machete-wielding thugs ransacked their home and made off with thousands of pounds worth of valuables and cash during a "violent" overnight burglary.

The couple in their 50s, whose identities we agreed not to reveal, have broken their silence in the hope the ordeal will be a "wake-up call" for villagers to be vigilant.

Speaking from their Driftwood Drive home, they told how between four and five youths broke in before coming upstairs to threaten them and two friends with truncheons and a machete.

The man said: "We heard this almighty crash downstairs. I thought at first it was the mirror falling off a wall.

"But then we heard another noise, so my wife opened the bedroom door and then she was confronted with four or five blokes coming up the stairs. They were shouting, 'give us your money'.

"They came through the door and pushed my wife back into the bedroom, and they just kept on asking for money. I kept on saying there is no money.

"That's when they pushed me in the chest and they raised their truncheons. We gave them the money in my wife's purse and they took money from our friends who were in the other room.

"They didn't say they were going to kill us, but you know what is going to happen to you if you don't do what they say.

"My wife is very traumatised, I mean, five people with truncheons and a machete, she feels very vulnerable in her own home. We have been violated.

"It was just disproportionate violence and real aggression for what they ended up getting away with. Nothing like that really happens in Kenley, so we just hope it is a wake-up call for people."

The couple had been entertaining two friends from Kent, with all four going to bed at about 1am after a meal and drinks.

However, between one and two hours later, the thugs used a rock to smash a rear ground floor window and get in. Two threatened the man and his wife while another two threatened their friends.

The intruders, who then trashed the house during the December 15 raid, are then thought to have made off in a vehicle in the direction of Croydon, with thousands of pounds worth of valuables and cash, some of which has been recovered, including items of jewellery.

All the raiders were hooded, with scarves covering up to the bridge of their noses.

Liban Ali, 19, of Moffat Road, Thornton Heath, has been charged with aggravated burglary. Three other men have been arrested and bailed.

This was the same Wolves team that were in the Premier League last season and were supposed to be promotion candidates.

Two Andre Moritz free-kicks and a Yannick Bolasie goal put paid to that, to complete a double for the Eagles over Wanderers this season.

And a few days later the Eagles held Premier League side Stoke City at home in the FA Cup to a 0-0 draw.

To be honest, it was a poor Stoke side, who did nothing to dispel their image as long-ball thugs. Little Jonny Williams was on the receiving end of more dodgy challenges than the Crystal Maze.

And while most Palace fans would have taken a defeat to the Potters to avoid disruption from our promotion campaign (that still sounds weird to say), a fourth round tie with Manchester City awaits. Suddenly we're interested.

And this was all after a tricky December period, during which Palace chucked away more leads than a pet shop owner as the Eagles slipped down the table from top spot to fourth.

It's a crazy old league and while a few wins can take you rocketing up the league, a couple of draws and a defeat can result in you slipping down the ladder quicker than a rubbish window cleaner.

But yet again, against Stoke, my man Moritz was on form. And, to be honest, I think I've fallen in love with Moritz after his beauty of a brace.

How can you not fall for a player that is so graceful, stylish and talented – my heart flutters each time he's on the ball.

I'll be honest, I'm pretty sure I love him more than my girlfriend. Which is understandable as she takes a terrible free-kick.

So, roll on 2013. If it continues as well as it has started for Palace then it's going to be a very fun year.

A HEARTLESS thief walked into a funeral directors and stole money donated in memory of cancer victims and bereaved relatives.

The criminal appears to have been caught on CCTV swiping the annual Christmas memorial tree collection tin from Rowland Brothers in Central Parade.

The collection box in the reception area contained about £85 at the time of the theft – two days after Christmas.

It was destined for the local Brenda Kirby Cancer Centre and two other charities.

Funeral arranger Angelia Jordan said: "It is the lowest of the low. They gave the money in memory of lost loved ones, and that makes it even worse."

Ms Jordan was inside the shop helping a family arrange a funeral when the theft happened, after a young man entered the premises and used a bizarre tactic to distract her.

She said: "I was with a family doing the funeral arrangements, and this young guy came in.

"I am not going to lock the door while the family is in there.

"He came in and interrupted the family I was helping.

"He had a big wad of lottery slips in his hand, peeled one off, handed it to me and went back out again. I was not going to leave the family.

"He was waiting around, and then when I watched it on camera I saw he picked up a leaflet and folded it over and picked up the box and walked out."

Police are investigating the theft but no arrests have been made.

Ms Jordan said the man on CCTV was white with dark hair. He was wearing a light-coloured, checked hoodie, chinos and dark shoes.

She did not notice the box was missing until Friday (January 4) when she went to count the money and send it to head office for the company-wide collection.

Realising it was gone, she recalled the strange incident with the man and checked the CCTV.

As well as the Brenda Kirby Cancer Centre – set up in honour of the former New Addington councillor – the money was meant for the Woodside Bereavement Centre and Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Ms Jordan added: "We have a little discreet box because not everyone can afford to give, and we do not expect people to give."

Mrs Kirby said she had heard about the crime but had not realised the culprit had interrupted a bereaved family.

She said: "Nobody is hugely well off around here but it is a really strong community and what they have they share. I just hope whoever took it was desperate, but nothing excuses interrupting a bereaved family.

"If anyone knows anything, tell us. Tell anybody. I am sure it will get through to the right people – they can do it anonymously if they want."

Call Croydon Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

AS YOU are all aware, we're currently in the January transfer window and I think we've got to try and enhance the squad to help the first team lads at the moment, bringing in one, two, three, maybe even four people if I can, but that's not easy.

I'm playing a waiting game at the moment and I'm asking Premier League managers 'can I have him, can I have him, can I have him?', but at the moment, we can't make any progress just yet.

If you're Demba Ba, you're just going to drive down and sign for Chelsea. Apart from that, who else has done anything yet?

West Ham have got Joe Cole, but I think there will be a mad rush at the end of the month.

We've only got two league games and a cup game anyway, and then for us, the most brilliant thing that can ever happen, the Premier League lads who don't make their club's 25-man squad - us Championship sides can come in and nick them.

I think we'll see lots of things that might happen, but it's about getting the right person instead of jumping on anything.

We're looking at every single option – players up and around the country and players in other countries, so it's very difficult to state anything.

I know the positions I would like to strengthen. Every fan will think differently but unfortunately at the moment it's only my opinion that counts and everyone will have to wait and see who I bring in, and see why I bring them in – hopefully it will make sense to everybody.

In terms of any players leaving, Barnet came in and wanted to take three players from us on loan, but it was all a bit random for my liking.

They wanted Kwesi Appiah, Ibra Sekajja and Kyle De Silva, but Kyle's not fit for another two weeks [editor's note: Sekajja was loaned to Barnet after this column was written].

I've still got to get Alex Marrow back from his loan and take a look at him, so he comes back next week.

I will be loaning my players out at some point but we've got a great system at the club with the U21 development squad.

I'm all about getting the right structure about what we do and how we do it. And I'm about the way the modern game is going. If you watched Barcelona last weekend against Espanyol, I thought they were absolutely terrific.

If you watch them, they know what they're doing when they have or haven't got the ball, and I don't see Palace being different from that in the next few years.

I think we've got a brilliant catchment area, where we breed hungry and up-for-it people, who are in the real world, because the world isn't easy, it's tough, particularly in the financial climate.

They appreciate the chance, they appreciate the club and the players appreciate playing for Palace. I think everything is looking towards us having a bright future.

DETECTIVES believe a man killed in a hit and run may have been struck by a neighbour's car.

Senthilnathan Subramaniam, 56, was delivering newspapers for his son when he was run over in Shepherds Way, Selsdon, at 6.35am on December 20.

This week police said the vehicle was probably being driven by someone living in the road or a visitor.

Mr Subramaniam, who lives a short walk away in Tedder Road, suffered serious head and chest injuries. He was taken to Croydon University Hospital where he died later that morning.

A few minutes before the collision he had collected newspapers from the Spar shop in nearby Freelands Avenue, where his 17-year-old son worked.

Mr Subramaniam had occasionally offered to do his son's paper round so he could get some exercise.

Shop manager Sailendra Patel said: "I'm very shocked by all of this. He was a good natured man, a very pleasant person. I can't understand how it has happened or why someone would do this. None of us can."

After collecting the papers, Mr Subramaniam had been making a delivery in Warren Avenue before walking into Shepherds Way.

The hit-and-run driver left Mr Subramaniam lying in the road with critical injuries. No one had been arrested as the Advertiser went to press.

Mr Patel said: "It was really chucking it down, which wouldn't have helped matters.

"I have been told by people who live in the road that there are often drivers speeding while on their phones in that area.

"I find it very hard to take that no one saw anything and that the driver didn't stop."

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The area where the collision is believed to have occurred is not used as a cut through, and therefore officers believe the vehicle involved is highly likely to belong to a resident or to a visitor who had reason to attend the area that morning."

A post-mortem examination found that Mr Subramaniam died from multiple crush injuries.

An inquest has been opened and adjourned at Croydon Coroner's Court.

The newsagent where he worked has raised £300 for his family from customers.

PRINCESS Royal University Hospital should be taken over by a neighbouring trust rather than private companies, according to an official recommendation.

Special administrator Matthew Kershaw says the Farnborough hospital – which provides emergency and maternity services for residents in New Addington – should be acquired by King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

This comes amid sweeping changes to the structure of healthcare in south-east London, due to financial difficulties at the South London Healthcare NHS Trust.

Fears were raised for services at the hospital in November, when Mr Kershaw published draft proposals in which he suggested privatising services.

However, in his final report on Tuesday, he cited the risks of privatisation, opposition to it during a consultation on the plans, and the strong track record of King's College NHS Foundation Trust.

Changes would see Princess Royal and three other hospitals providing emergency care for the most critically unwell patients in south-east London.

Mr Kershaw said: "I do believe that if implemented fully, they will help deliver safe, high quality, affordable and sustainable services for the people of south-east London into the future."

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has until early February to decide whether to approve the recommendations.

A WIDOW has spoken of the dramatic decision to marry her DJ lover on his hospital deathbed just a few hours before he died.

Sonja and Earl Junior McDonald, of South Croydon, took their vows in front of a bedside priest and registrar just three hours before Earl, widely known in Croydon as Junior Mac, lost his battle with prostate cancer.

The Lightning FM disc jockey, who worked at the Granaries, Bar Seven and The Roxbury, had been battling the killer disease for about two years and had been in hospital for a week before tying the knot.

Mrs McDonald, 46, said: "He was over the moon and so was I. He smiled and lit up afterwards, and then just said, 'hi Mrs', and I giggled. His smile lit up the ward.

"I loved Junior and he wanted to get married, and that was his last dying wish, and I gave it to him."

Mrs McDonald revealed how Earl, 49, called her from his deathbed at the Royal Marsden, Sutton, saying he wanted to marry her on the morning of the day of his death.

She then took the couple's passports to the register office where the marriage was officially recorded before the priest arrived at Earl's bedside at 4.30pm. By 7.30pm he had died.

The couple had met through the Granaries nightclub, where Mrs McDonald is a manager.

She added: "It was surreal because half of me didn't believe he would go so soon. We wanted to experience being married because we had lived together for over a year, but we only got a few hours.

"I remember the happiness on his face when the vows were said and then the pain when we knew I wasn't going to see him much longer.

"I'm going to miss him so much. I tried to save him."

Mrs McDonald, along with his family – who attended the funeral with nearly 1,000 mourners last week at Croydon Minster, in Church Street, – hope Junior's story will raise awareness of prostate cancer, the third-biggest killer of men in Britain.

Croydon University Hospital had failed to diagnose the disease in 2010 before he began urinating blood.

And it was not until being seen by experts at East Surrey Hospital and the Royal Marsden that the cancer was diagnosed in January last year.

His father Vincent, mother Ruby, brothers Tony and Barry and sisters Beverley and Kharon, all paid tribute to a DJ much loved by his family, friends and fans.

In a joint tribute, they said: "Earl Junior McDonald will be sorely missed.

"Junior Mac, as he'd become known in and outside of the music industry, lived and breathed music. He had a mass following of fans at the community radio station Lightning FM, where he was a resident DJ and presenter and was well respected.

"We, his immediate family, recognised how unique Junior was as a brother and an individual. He was very loving, intelligent, charismatic and wise beyond his years.

"He was one in a million.

"Fortunately the resemblance, personality and mannerism of his children and grandchildren will guarantee to remind us of Junior for always and forever.

"Everyone is really going to miss him. He had an influence on so many people's lives."

Mrs McDonald has urged readers to make donations to the Royal Marsden after paying tribute to its professionalism.

CROYDON South MP Richard Ottaway this week announced his support for gay marriage.

The Tory had previously been undecided on the controversial issue when quizzed by the Advertiser.

But following "several discussions with constituents", including members of the Church and teachers in faith schools, Mr Ottaway has made his position clear.

"Society has come a long way on the subject of sexual equality," the MP said.

"As a member of the Conservative party and of the Church of England I am intensely aware of the reservations that exist. However, we should recognise that the historical success of both of these institutions has been due to their willingness to evolve as society evolves."

• You can send pictures of Croydon in the snow to joanna.till@northcliffedigital.co.uk

A WASHING machine fire drew 25 firefighters to Upper Norwood last night.

A pregnant woman and a man escaped uninjured when their washing machine caught fire at 10.55pm.

The couple were asleep but awoken by their fire alarm, which has only been fitted by firefighters six months ago.

Five fire engines and 25 firefighters were called to the flat in Grenville Court in Lymer Avenue in Upper Norwood.

Thanks to the alarm the couple managed to escape the flat unharmed, although the woman was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

West Norwood Crew Manager Matthew Wright said: "There's not a doubt in my mind that the smoke alarm saved their lives.

"The smoke that comes from melted plastic is very toxic and extremely dangerous, if they hadn't woken up when they did this story could have had tragic consequences.

"The London Fire Brigade fits smoke alarms for free, so if you can't get hold of one yourself, arrange a home fire safety visit and we will come to your home,  talk about fire safety, and fit alarms where necessary. As you can see, smoke alarms really do save lives."

To book a home fire safety visit london-fire.gov.uk/homefiresafetyvisit.asp

CRYSTAL Palace boss Ian Holloway has confirmed he has shown an interest in Peterborough United's George Boyd during the current transfer window.
Boyd, who is out of contract this summer and currently transfer-listed at London Road, is attracting interest from a number of Championship clubs at present.
But Holloway told Advertiser Sport that it's now unlikely the player will be moving to Selhurst Park, having been put off by Posh's valuation.
"I asked the question to Peterborough, but what they wanted wasn't right, so that won't be us bringing him to Palace," he said.
"It's all about the valuation, his wages and about fitting him in the squad somewhere, but it was only a tentative enquiry."
Nottingham Forest are one of the other clubs who were interested in the 27-year-old, but have also been put off by Peterborough's valuation.

The contents of this article must NOT be reproduced without the permission of the Croydon Advertiser.

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THE January transfer window is wide open and we've already seen a number of deals completed in the first ten days. And for the following three weeks a flurry of activity is expected to continue across the Premier League and Football League.

So, who should Palace look to bring in to boost their promotion hopes? Here, Advertiser Sport looks at a list of six potential players who could make that extra difference either permanently or on loan.

CROYDON University Hospital board members are plotting a mass walkout if its under-fire temporary chief is given the top job permanently.

Critics of John Goulston, the interim chief executive who is on a six-figure salary, want to see somebody else appointed to lead the hospital full-time, following the departure of Nick Hulme in February last year.

News of the planned exodus comes as Mr Goulston refused to answer our questions about his – and the hospital's – future when we visited him at his townhouse in Forest Hill.

Last month the Advertiser revealed Mr Goulston was hit with a vote of no confidence from board members. It followed a damning report by health watchdog the Care Quality Commission, which said improvements were needed in the hospital's management after its last visit in October.

However, the chief executive has defiantly applied for the top job permanently and denied all knowledge of the vote of no confidence from the non-executive directors, who make up a third of the board and are preparing to resign en masse.

What is known as the executive directors are also understood to have discussed resignation.

We visited Mr Goulston at his home at the weekend after his repeated refusals to answer our questions via the hospital's press office.

When asked why he had been failing to respond over the past few weeks, he said: "I have been on holiday."

Then, when asked about the vote of no confidence in his performance, he added: "It's news to me." He refused to answer any further questions.

Croydon Healthwatch Pathfinder, the local patients' group, is demanding answers from Mr Goulston "for the greater good of the hospital and its patients".

Folake Segun, the group's spokesman, added: "We are concerned to hear that a rift is developing.

"Any lack of unity among the hospital's leadership will have a significant negative impact on patient care."

A source told the Advertiser the vote of no confidence has been overridden by NHS London – the strategic health authority (SHA) which appoints the chairman – and that the non-executive directors have sought legal advice after being overruled.

Mr Goulston, also director of a company called NHS Innovations London, which was earmarked to be struck off in October, had a row with Michael Parker, the former chairman, who was asked to resign by NHS London earlier in December.

The vote of no confidence in the interim chief would have allowed Michael Parker to bring his interim contract to a premature end, the Advertiser understands. A rift between the pair had been rumbling on for several weeks.

Meanwhile Karen Jones, a non-executive director, has also stepped down and Richard Parker, director of operations, has left after being made "redundant", according to an e-mail sent by Mr Goulston.

NHS London has now appointed two members of its own board – Mike Bell and Sara Coles – to fill interim chairman and interim chief operating officer roles respectively at Croydon.

It is the third time the SHA has installed interim directors in Croydon within the space of nine months.

The continued instability at the top has stoked fears the hospital will continue to struggle longer than is necessary in getting its house in order after a turbulent year of resignations, questionable decisions and damning reports.

A spokesman for health watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said: "Poor or inconsistent management can have an impact on patient care."

A shortlist of applications for the permanent chief executive role will be drawn up in the coming weeks.

In a rare interview, Mr Rouse told the Advertiser that capping benefits at £500 per week will affect 800 families and deepen the borough's housing "crisis".

The number of households living in emergency housing in Croydon has risen six-fold in the last four years, from 61 in 2008 to 441 at the end of 2012.

Of greatest concern are the 170 homeless families who have been in shared bed and breakfast accommodation longer than the six-week government guideline.

The stark figures have led Mr Rouse to make addressing homelessness the council's main priority.

"Housing is our number one problem," he told the Advertiser.

"There is a housing crisis in Croydon and we're not going to try and pretend there isn't.

"For a whole set of circumstances, Croydon has become a hotspot in terms of a lack of housing availability.

"Unless there is a very rapid economic recovery, which leads to a significant fall in joblessness, then the likelihood is that homeless numbers are going to get worse before they get better."

Mr Rouse, who has created a housing supply task force to source more homes, based his bleak prediction on the latest change to the benefit system, which will see overall benefits capped at £500 per household, per week.

The Government says the new system will be fairer for working families, but critics have branded the cap "immoral" and an attempt to "demonise the jobless".

Croydon has been chosen as one of only four authorities in the country to trial the changes from April, alongside Bromley, Haringey and Enfield. The cap will be rolled out across the rest of the country in the summer.

There was no consultation with Croydon Council prior to the announcement, and it is now taking legal advice to discover whether the decision can be challenged.

Mr Rouse continued: "Is it fair for a Croydon household to be treated differently from a Sutton or a Lambeth household, even if it is only for a period of time?

"My second concern is whether it will make it even more difficult for us to access temporary accommodation, if landlords believe they could be affected by the benefit cap when others aren't in the same situation.

"So we are talking with the three other boroughs about how we might to relay our concerns back to the Government."

Mr Rouse added: "Clearly they wanted to test on areas where there are a significant numbers of people affected by the cap. Why we were chosen over other London boroughs I don't know."

Council projections show the cap, which roughly equates to £26,000 a year, is likely to affect 800 families in Croydon, although it is harder to tell how many will be a risk of becoming homeless.

"We are still trying to work out what the impact will be but I don't think there's any doubt [the cap] will increase homelessness," said Mr Rouse.

"Now we are trying to contact them, because we need to talk to them now about how they are going to cope.

"If there are any households reading the article who think they are likely to be affected then contact us now."

Mr Rouse believes changes to housing benefit, introduced last April, have also led to increased homelessness applications, because families have been priced out of the private sector.

Estimates show the reduction in Local Housing Allowance (LHA) to the 30th rather than 50th percentile would mean the council had to find homes for an extra 530 families, and left 300 single people facing eviction. It was also predicted that 550 families would move to the borough from more expensive areas of London.

Mr Rouse said: "The benefits cap will only add to the pressure we are under."

Though other local authorities are experiencing housing pressure, the issue is particularly acute in Croydon. The borough's council housing stock stands at 11,000, and although 40 new homes are planned this year, demand far outstrips supply. Mr Rouse said: "Our borough struggles because the number of units which become available from our housing stock in any given month is only 50 to 75 units. "If you think about our waiting list then you can see that people are going to be waiting a very long time for access to that accommodation." With its own stock over-subscribed, Croydon is reliant on the private sector, where supply is also dwindling due to market immobility and landlords being reluctant to take social tenants. In 2011 the council found 393 rental properties, but last year just 31. Mr Rouse said: "The private sector has been saying a number of things. One is that they don't need to rent to people on benefits, that there's such a demand for their property, why should they take the risk? "That's more of a perception of risk than a reality but that's what they say. Second, rents are going up so people on low incomes or on benefits are going to struggle to afford them." The shortage of available housing has contributed to a significant rise in homelessness. Croydon council received more than 2,200 homelessness applications in the past 12 months and placed 1,470 households in temporary accommodation, of which record numbers are in emergency housing such as hostels and bed and breakfasts. The social and economic causes behind the figures are also on the increase. There has been a 43 per cent jump in applications due to rent arrears and 53 per cent rise in homelessness caused by family breakdown, as well as an increase in people fleeing domestic violence. With no viable alternatives, the council has little choice but to place many of these vulnerable families in shared B&Bs. Government guidelines say such emergency accommodation should only be used as a last resort and for no more than six weeks, though 170 have been there longer, leading one Government minister to claim the council was breaking the law. Mr Rouse admits the authority is 'vulnerable' to legal action from families in this situation, but says he is doing all he can to reduce the numbers. He said: "The regulations say they should not be there for more than six weeks, yet there is not enough accommodation to move them on to. They are coming in the front door faster than we can get them into alternative housing. "Do we want families in shared accommodation? The answer is no. Do we think it's the best environment for children to grow up in? No." To tackle the problems, the council has created a housing supply task force. As well as existing bond schemes, it will offer landlords greater incentives, including increasing the amount paid up front for properties. A new initiative, to be introduced later this year, will see owners of properties left empty for more than two years charged a premium on their council tax. In the short term, Mr Rouse's focus will be on reducing long term placements in B&Bs, by sourcing more accommodation outside London, including placements across East and South East England. Croydon housing chief Dudley Mead was 'aghast' at news that Croydon will be one of only four areas to trial the Government's new housing benefit cap in April. Mr Mead, cabinet member for housing, said the council, together with Bromley and Enfield, was now seeking legal advice on whether the decision can be challenged. The three councils, together with Haringey, are angry there was no consultation with them before the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) made the announcement shortly before Christmas. The intention, the DWP says, is that the cap will be in place across the country by the summer. There are already concerns that the cap will increase pressure on scare housing provision in areas like Croydon, but Cllr Mead believes the borough could be hit even harder by being forced to pave the way for the new system. "We have a housing crisis going on and what we are trying to do is persuade private landlords to let their properties to Croydon residents to help ease the problem," he said. He fears that if these landlords knew that Croydon was one of the areas in which the benefits cap was operating initially, meaning tenants may not be able to afford rents, 'they won't come anywhere near us'. He added: "The DWP is exacerbating the crisis."

• If you will be affected by the benefits cap call the council's hotline on 020 8726 7000 or visit www.croydon.gov.uk/benefitchanges

A TESTING kit for use by police to detect drug drivers – a key aim of the Advertiser's Lillian's Law campaign – has been approved by the Home Office.

The device is able detect cannabis – the substance taken by the speeding driver who killed 14-year-old Lillian Groves outside her New Addington home in June 2010.

Her death led the Advertiser and her family to launch a campaign, which included a call for the introduction of roadside testing devices.

That goal moved a step closer to reality this week with the approval of a device for use in police stations.

The Home Office said the saliva testing kit, made by German medical technology firm Draeger, would "strip out bureaucracy and speed up justice" by removing the need for police to call a doctor before demanding a blood sample.

Prime Minister David Cameron committed to introducing equipment for use in stations by the end of 2012, following a meeting with Lillian's family and the Advertiser in November 2011.

He also promised to review the law on drug-driving, leading a new offence to be included in the Queen's Speech in May.

Micheala Groves, Lillian's aunt, said: "Ultimately there should be a drug-testing device in every police car, which is what the Prime Minister said needs to happen.

"But if it has to begin in police stations, then fine, even if it's just to alleviate the need to call medical staff in.

"The campaign is not just for us, it's to make sure no other families have to go through the same situation. Towards that end, this is a big step in the right direction."

Draeger's device, the Drug Test 5000, can detect THC, the active ingredient in cannabis. It was among a number of kits assessed by the Home Office's Centre for Applied Science and Technology, which will now look at other pieces of equipment capable of identifying other substances.

Lillian's parents, Natasha and Gary Groves, tested the Drugalyser after meeting UK distributors Modern Health Systems last year.

Natasha said: "I wasn't surprised Draeger was chosen because their kit was very good.

"It was portable, so could be used in the police stations and the roadside, and it's an all in one unit which ticks all the boxes and does everything you need."

The device will complement new legislation, contained within the Crime and Courts Bill currently making its way through Parliament, which will make it an automatic offence to drive if you have certain drugs in your system, removing the current need to prove impairment.

The penalty for the new offence, expected to be in place by next year, will be a maximum of six months in prison and a fine of up to £5,000, with an automatic driving ban of at least 12 months.

An expert panel tasked with exploring the implications of the new law, as well as which drugs it should cover, is due to publish its report imminently.

DIRECT rail links from East Croydon to Peterborough and Cambridge will available for the first time as part of the £6 billion being spent on upgrading Thameslink services between 2014 and 2019.

Commuters from the town will also benefit from more capacity on peak hour services to and from Victoria and London Bridge.

Passengers using East Croydon will get an as yet unspecified share of 115,000 extra train seats which will be provided by 2019.

The benefits are outlined in Network Rail's latest investment programme for London and the South East announced this week.

The programme also includes track and signalling improvements and power upgrades.

Under the Thameslink programme, passengers using East Croydon will still be able to travel to Bedford and Luton Airport.

As part of the upgrade, which will mean 24 Thameslink trains an hour running through central London, there will be a new tunnel link from St Pancras providing a direct route via Hitchin and Stevenage to Peterborough and Cambridge.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: "For Croydon the biggest thing is the Thameslink programme with passengers particularly benefiting from that."

But he warned that the "flip side" for commuters in the shorter term would be the rebuilding of London Bridge station – what Network Rail describes as "the single most ambitious and challenging redevelopment of any station in Britain".

The spokesman said: "There will obviously be considerable disruption to passengers while we are carrying out the work."

THE grandmother of Shelley Pratt has resorted to using a psychic in a bid to find the missing schoolgirl.

Lisa Pratt, whose 14-year-old daughter Shelley went missing on November 8, has told the Advertiser how her mother-in-law is not coping well with the disappearance, and is so desperate for answers she contacted a medium for help.

The distraught mum said: "The whole family can't cope but my husband's mother is finding it very hard, she has been very affected by the whole thing.

"She spoke to a medium in Peckham just before the new year and she gave us a little information, which matches which I already thought.

"Apparently she is with a 40-year-old man and he isn't letting her go. The medium said he has tied her up and he is abusing her. She also said he drives a gold car, but that's all."

Shelley, a student at Westwood Language College, lived with her family in South Norwood until her disappearance.

The schoolgirl has been described by her relatives as "a normal teenager", and they said her disappearance was completely unexpected.

Shelley was last seen on CCTV images walking down High Street, Croydon, on the night of her disappearance, November 9. She can be seen in the images walking with an unknown black man, whom police are keen to identify.

Mrs Pratt said: "Every day is getting harder. We've decided to leave the Christmas lights up until she returns, and then we can turn them on for her.

"I have a devil on one shoulder telling me this man will never let her go, but then on the other side I still think and hope she is going to walk through the front door."

Although there has been a nationwide appeal to find Shelley, Mrs Pratt said: "I feel the police could have been more supportive. I'm always the one chasing them for information.

"My friend thought they saw her in Catford. I told the police but they're only just looking at the CCTV now.

"It was a week ago, I don't think it's good enough."

If you have information on Shelley's whereabouts call the police incident room on 020 8721 4906.

I couldn't give a damn about how important the match was or what the consequences were.

There is no place in our sport for racism and I applaud the AC Milan team for walking off after Kevin-Prince Boateng was racially abused in Italy.

Why shouldn't they make a stand? If you keep ignoring it, nothing will ever change.

That's why I can't believe FIFA president Sepp Blatter said players should report it to the referee and carry on playing as if nothing has happened.

What would he know about being abused simply for the colour of your skin or religion? From the man who is supposed to be running the world's game it is a very unwise statement and doesn't do any of us any favours.

As human beings, we should try and live our lives by showing humanity.

Being human is caring for other people and racism is totally unacceptable in today's world, that anyone is victimised or picked upon because of the colour of their skin – it's absolute nonsense.

Until the people at the top get serious about it and see it as a serious issue, nothing will ever happen I'm afraid.

Until those people or that person responsible is grabbed, dragged out of the ground and chucked into prison where they should be for their bigoted ideas, nothing is ever going to change.

So, why not stop the game until those people are identified? Why should you scream and shout abuse at someone just for the price of a ticket? You're going into a sports ground to watch a game of sport. You should go there as a supporter – it doesn't give you a ticket to abuse someone.

Until society stands up and says 'actually, that's unacceptable, get out of our ground', and until bigger sanctions are put upon these countries and clubs, nothing is ever going to change.

One of the worst ones I've seen for years was with the England U21s playing in Serbia. I think the sanction put on Serbia, a country with a proven track record of racism, was an absolute disgrace.

I'm pretty disgusted in the whole of society if we keep making excuses for the people to be able to do this. I don't think there should be any room for excuses.

We're supposed to be civilised and people are still dying because of hunger and starvation. It's just not right, the world is not right.

Let's just try and do something about it instead of turning a blind eye all the time. Mr Blatter is supposed to be in charge of things but he blows it to the side and says we'll just have a handshake after the game.

It's more than that, my friend. Until the people at the top see it as more serious, nothing is going to change.