Now instead of battling it out, the rivals for redeveloping the centre will work together to finalise a £1 billion project which is widely expected to kickstart the regeneration of the whole town centre.

Both companies admitted to the Advertiser last week that the council's threat of organising a public competition to find a preferred developer had been key in their decision to co-operate rather than get embroiled in a long and costly fight.

The competition would have involved the council setting down parameters for how it wanted to see the town centre develop and inviting Hammerson and Westfield, plus Allders owner Delancey, to come up with bids to meet those requirements.

• John Lewis department store could be part of Croydon town centre plan

Council leader Mike Fisher said this week: "I am very happy to say that the signs we were preparing a competition to secure a preferred bidder was a major factor in the thinking of Hammerson and Westfield in coming together."

He claimed that neither company wanted to get involved in a costly exercise which could see one of them ending up with nothing.

Cllr Fisher admitted he was "a little surprised" at the speed of the outcome and the fact the developers had managed to keep their negotiations under wraps for so long.

• Westfield/Hammerson deal will trigger Croydon's renaissance, say business groups

He added: "All the feedback initially was that the two parties wanted to develop the Whitgift Centre on their own but they have come together in a sensible and pragmatic approach for the benefit of the town."

He said he was delighted with the deal, which he was convinced would return Croydon to its role as the premier shopping centre in south London.

The Advertiser understands the decision to go down the public competition road was the result of originally immovable stances being adopted by the major players.

Up to a few months ago, the indications from Hammerson and Westfield were that they would never work together.

Apparently, if that was not enough, the Whitgift Foundation, which owns the Whitgift Centre freehold and has a deal with Westfield, was also suggesting it was in an unassailable position.

• Croydon Westfield and Hammerson shopping centre 'could ease Purley Cross traffic'

It was confident the council would never take on a 400-year-old Croydon institution by suggesting going down the line of a compulsory purchase of its interest.

But at this point it is believed the Greater London Authority and the Mayor of London got involved, backing the council view that the regeneration of Croydon was too important to be lost in an ownership battle.

It is understood that a message was conveyed to the foundation that if Croydon proved hesitant on the compulsory purchase order front, the GLA could take a very different view.

This, it seems, set a few nerves jangling in the Westfield/Foundaton camp and played its part in the start of the discussions which have led to what all sides now believe will be the best solution to ensure a prosperous future for the joint developers and the town.

• Fast track for revised Croydon shopping centre plans

A DOPEY burglar gave detectives a lead - by leaving his footprints in the snow after targeting a Thornton Heath house.

The prints were examined by a forensic officer after the burglary in Colliers Water Lane.

The burglary happened between 7pm and 10pm on Saturday night.

A quantity of jewellery and cash were stolen.

Resident Sophie Rowlatt said: "You would think if they are going to do something so terrible they would actually cover their tracks when they're done.

"I bet they'll be in a rush to chuck their boots out now."

Another resident, Kat Heawood, said: "It's very scary. You never think something like that will happen to you.

"I hope they can catch whoever did it and I hope the victims get their belongings back.

"It's a horrible way to start the new year."

There have been no arrests at this stage.

If you saw someone acting suspiciously in the area or have information on the burglary, call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

DEVELOPERS hoping to build new homes in the borough will have to ensure the plans are backed up by adequate services.

This was made clear at Monday's council cabinet meeting which endorsed the adoption by the Mayor of London of the Croydon Opportunity Area planning framework (OAPF).

The OAPF will act as a blueprint from the mayor's office guiding future planning policies.

One of its main policies is to ensure 7,300 homes are built in the borough over the next 20 years.

But Labour councillor Toni Letts wanted to make sure the building was not done in isolation.

She told the meeting that while she mostly welcomed the document, there needed to be clear policies which ensured that housing developments were supported by a proper infrastructure, including the provision of local health services and nursery schools.

Councillor Jason Perry, the council's cabinet member for planning, assured her: "If developers wish to build residential developments they will need to provide for infrastructure."

He said developers would be expected to provide details of the facilities they planned when they submitted planning applications.

The number of new homes proposed caused concern to Broad Green Labour councillor Stuart Collins.

He said he was worried new homes would be concentrated in the north of the borough, particularly around West Croydon, where services and parking for residents were already stretched.

He said: "I would like to see new housing spread across the borough. There is more room for development and more space for parking in the south."

Cllr Perry said: "We are not trying to put 7,000 new homes in West Croydon."

The number of homes earmarked for West Croydon over the next 20 years was 700, he added.

PETER RAMAGE says the quicker Wilfried Zaha's future is sorted out - whether it's away from Selhurst Park or not - the easier it will be for the club to concentrate on gaining promotion.

However, should the 20-year-old go, the defender says that Zaha could cope with the Premier League and expects him to go straight to the top.

"I think everybody would just like it resolved sooner rather than later," Ramage told Advertiser Sport.

"The best thing for the club and for Wilf is to get the best deal possible if he is going.

"With all the speculation around him, he hasn't let it affect him and he's just been the same old Wilf in training.

"He's one of our main assets and the way he's been playing in the last couple of weeks, you're expecting the big boys to come sniffing.

"It's no surprise they have done, but I think he would like to get it sorted so he knows what he's going to be doing and we can all concentrate on the second half of the season.

"I honestly believe if he keeps maturing and learning the way he is, he can go as far as he wants.

"The management and coaching staff have kept him level-headed and they've made him aware it's about the team and not himself.

"His feet are on the ground and he knows where he wants to go. He can go to the top.

"I don't see why he couldn't cope in the Premier League. He can go there and set the place alight."

Concern that an unsuspecting passer-by could be speared by one of the icy spikes led to the pavement around ten shops on Central Parade being taped off from 11.30am on Tuesday.

Firefighters called to the scene decided it was too risky to knock the icicles down, in case they also brought down the guttering, which was sinking with snow.

They changed their mind, however, returning on Wednesday morning to remove the icicles - without damaging the guttering.

Central Parade Business Partnership chairman Ken Burgess thought the cordon was "the right call".

He added: "We do not want anything to prevent trade but nor do we want our customers to be pierced with a four-foot icicle.

"Dropping from a 40 foot height they could reach quite a speed and have a considerable force."

But shop worker Steve Clements thought society had become "too obsessed with health and safety"

He said: "All they should do is close it off and bang them down and it's done. They are worried about damages but that is the responsibility of the landlords – they should have had the gutters cleaned in the first place."

Shopkeepers said they had been asked by firefighters either to close or put notices on their door warning of the dangers.

Many said the measures had cost them trade.

Mohammed Bhzad, owner of Dylan's Barber, said: "[The cordon] has been a problem, especially for the ladies with buggies who won't come in because of this.

"But I think it is necessary. The icicles are really sharp and could cause death if they fell down."

Booze Bank store worker Rick Bhat, 23, said: "People are still coming in but it is not like before.

"Normally 3pm or 4pm would be busy but not today. People think it is a crime scene or something."

Daring teenager Michael O'Reilly, 17, of King Henry's Drive, was one of a number of shoppers who defied the cordon – to buy fried chicken.

He said: "They are dangerous. I have never seen them that big before."

DRIVERS are set to benefit from the £1 billion plan to regenerate Croydon town centre – with cash to sort out the Purley Cross traffic bottleneck on the cards.

Retail giants Westfield and Hammerson last week signed a joint deal to develop the Whitgift Centre - immediately signalling their intention to attract shoppers from the south of Croydon and beyond.

Croydon Council leader Mike Fisher said this week financial backing for a package to ease congestion at both Purley and the Fiveways junction on the Purley Way is likely to be high on the developers' wish list.

Cllr Fisher believes the Westfield/Hammerson partnership can be persuaded to commit money to proposals which he says will attract new customers to Croydon.

If those numbers were to be boosted seriously, people would have to be attracted from areas south of the borough and, inevitably, many would want to drive into the town.

Cllr Fisher warned: "These people are not going to be so keen to come here if they are going to face a three-hour journey along the A23."

Helping ease the traffic congestion problems, he added, was therefore in the interest of Westfield/Hammerson.

The idea of improvements to Purley has been widely welcomed in principle but there remains a widespread scepticism about how they would actually work.

Tarsem Flora, chairman of Purley and Woodcote Residents' Association, said: "We would welcome any contribution but we are asking do they really know how much it is going to cost?"

He added that while the deal between Hammerson and Westfield made improvement more likely, the options for what to do about the junction were limited.

Mr Flora said many people favoured a return to the simple crossroads which existed before the elaborate roundabout was introduced, while others backed the idea of an underpass.

Steve O'Connell, Croydon's London Assembly member, said: "Hammerson and Westfield will want the 'fat wallets' from north Surrey to come into Croydon and won't want them put off by difficult traffic blockages."

He agreed there was no consensus locally on how the problem of Purley Cross could be solved, but felt congestion could be eased by improving the phasing of traffic lights and removing the bus lane up to Old Lodge Lane.

Purley councillor Donald Speakman went a step further, saying there were few problems along Brighton Road outside of peak times, and that longer traffic light green phases had made even rush-hour travel easier.

Cllr Speakman added: "If there is going to be money available from Westfield and Hammerson, I would rather see it spent on improving Purley pool."

AN ANTISOCIAL behaviour mediator abused a lesbian couple and stuck her finger up one of their friends' noses during a heated row in a school playground.

Diana Marquis, 51, of Songhurst Close, Croydon, who works with the Wandle Housing Association, must now attend diversity awareness classes as a result of the outburst at West Thornton Primary Academy.

It also involved her telling a teaching assistant: "I will kill everyone. I will go to prison for my children. I will protect my children."

She was made the subject of a 12-month community order and must do 200 hours' community service and pay each assault victim £100 compensation.

The court was told that the outburst came during a row over Marquis's children and the other women's respective children.

Mother-of-three Marquis denied assaulting Isobel Hodson, who is in a civil partnership with Stephanie Richards, and assaulting another parent, Debbie Cooplestone, who became involved in the row on June 20 last year, but was found guilty on both counts.

She was also convicted of three counts of threatening behaviour towards the couple and headmistress Jo Simmonds on the same occasion – and harassing the couple between June 13 and June 20 at the school by abusing them with homophobic language.

Up to 25 children aged between 5 and 11, many in tears, witnessed the row, which also included Marquis shouting at the head in the reception area: "I'm gonna take that smile off your face."

Prosecutor Eka Kalunta-Ike told Croydon Magistrates' Court on Thursday: "Ms Richards has described four incidents where she has been verbally abused by the defendant, who has used homophobic language in the hearing of other children, including hers.

"Another parent, Debbie Cooplestone, challenged her about her behaviour and was assaulted. The assault involved the defendant sticking her right index finger in her [victim's] right nostril, causing her discomfort."

The parties left, but almost immediately returned at the school's request for clear-the-air talks, which quickly went downhill.

"Marquis shouted and swore at the couple and spat at Ms Hodson's face.

"Ms Richards admits she attempted to punch the defendant, but she ducked out of the way."

Marquis was unhappy about the way the school handled a fight between her son and the same-sex couple's daughter.

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LAST Saturday's match against Bolton Wanderers may have been a goalless draw, but for some of the staff at Selhurst Park prior to the match, they certainly would have had a winning feeling inside them.

A number of games were postponed because of heavy snowfall around the country, and with the cold weather refusing to go away, Palace fans may have feared the worst ahead of the game.

But a strong team assembled by the club's head groundsman Mark Perrin made sure that was not the case, as up to 20 people got stuck in to make sure Selhurst Park was in the right shape.

"There are five groundsmen, including myself, and the maintenance team and general ground staff also helped out, so there was probably at least dozen of us on the Friday," Perrin told Advertiser Sport.

"We worked until 7pm, and on the Saturday we managed to utilise some of the matchday staff from 8am.

"We had already started an hour before, so we had an extra 20 bodies helping on the ground, which was pretty good.

"The snow arrived right on cue last Friday, but we knew there was a certain amount we could clear fairly quickly.

"It was bit soul-destroying as the snow kept falling pretty heavily, but our thinking was to just clear the original snow at least so we didn't have so much to do on the Saturday morning."

Perrin admitted he wasn't worried too much about the game being called off and revealed it was vital they made a start the day before.

"I was reasonably confident the game against Bolton would have gone ahead," he said.

"We've dealt with similar situations before and it was all down to the amount of snow we got.

"If we got six inches of snow on the Friday, we would not have been able to clear it in that amount of time before the game.

"Another inch had fallen overnight, but we were able to clear it by 11am. Even though it's worrying when snow falls, we've definitely had worse at Selhurst."

Meanwhile, the first team management were aware of events in SE25 constantly, while Perrin says all efforts were, and always are, made around the stadium for supporters to get to their seats.

"Ian Holloway and Keith Millen were kept informed of the situation and it's important you keep that line of communication going," he said.

"If they think the game might be off, their heads might not be in the right place or something. And then suddenly if it's on, it could be a shock.

"The referee did arrive early and had a look at 9am, but he was happy with what we'd done and we were always in control.

"If he had turned up at that time with more snow, he may have been a bit worried but we had done half of it already.

"The stadium team that worked late on Friday and early Saturday morning were fantastic and we nearly ran out of snow shovels.

"But we'll also do outside the ground for the fans and the car park area. Sometimes, we'll even do the immediate roads leading up to Selhurst Park if they haven't been done.

"We make sure we do everything we can for the supporters, whatever the weather."

However, Perrin, who has been working at Palace for eight years, says there has been one particular time while at the club when their hard work had been for nothing.

"I've been at the club since 2005 and the worst scenario for us is when you do all that work to either clear snow or drain the pitch, then the game gets called off," he said.

"I would say the Bristol City game two years ago is a good example of that. We even had people working through the night that week.

"We were glad it had been all done by the Friday, but the next day we were gutted."

So what does the future hold for sport venues fighting snow and other bad weather? Perrin admitted it was a tough question to answer, but says having undersoil heating and pitch covers would be a minimum.

"It's more difficult these days as players and managers are less likely to play in marginal conditions as opposed to maybe 15 years ago or more," he said.

"Even referees sometimes want to call it off rather than it going ahead due to health and safety.

"Undersoil heating and pitch covers can certainly keep the cold weather out if you get significant snowfall, but unless that's coordinated and with the local councils as well, these situations today are always going to keep coming up with the snow."

Not a spare seat was to be had at St Michael and All Angels' Church in Croydon on Monday as mourners – some travelling from overseas for the service – packed out the church.

A moving tribute from the 22-year-old's mother, Diane, was read on her behalf by Father Ian Brothwood - the vicar who baptised Stephen at a young age.

The eulogy told how Stephen's Thailand trip had been driven by his yearning for exploration and experiencing the great outdoors.

"As a baby, he would be climbing out of his cot before he could crawl. It seemed he could run before he could walk," the congregation heard.

"Apart from his sport, he didn't take school very seriously and was always looking out of the window. He wanted to be outside. He preferred the university of life to formal education."

It was this love of being outside which led to Stephen taking up football from the earliest age possible, playing for his school teams before going on to have trials for Crystal Palace and West Ham.

It was also why he took up golf, securing his first-ever hole-in-one at the "mature age" of 13, later becoming a player with a handicap of five.

The 300 mourners also heard the importance of family holidays to Stephen, which he had enjoyed with his mother, father John and sister Emily.

They heard how he and his sister had gone to catch mackerel in the sea, only to be told by their father, who had owned Upstream Fisheries in Wallington, they wouldn't catch any, but that if they did, he would gut the fish for them.

Father Brothwood added: "But they started to haul them in and John had to sharpen his knife so that Diane could cook them.

"He was a leader, not a follower. He loved the good things in life. He was fun-loving, but it wasn't all one way because people were also able to laugh at him too.

"Stephen packed a huge amount into his short life, and right to the very end, he was having the time of his life.

"That's why it was so tragic that as an innocent bystander, he was caught in the crossfire of the violence and evil of others. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"Hopefully there will be justice."

Stephen was shot dead while seeing in the New Year in Thailand with friends on the island of Koh Phangan. He was caught in the crossfire after a gunfight broke out between two rival gangs.

The cortege was led by funeral directors Rowland Brothers, who also arranged for the repatriation of Stephen from Thailand.

Pallbearers carried the coffin in front of his grieving family as the service got under way.

A floral tribute alongside the 22-year-old's coffin read "Big Hands" – the nickname he was known affectionately by among his friends, and which schoolmate Glen Thomas, who gave a personal tribute during the service, made reference to in his speech.

Mr Thomas said: "He was someone who lived life to the max. Everything was big, from the nights out to the size of his hands. Everyone who met Steve loved him.

"He was having the time of his life [in Thailand], he was living the dream. He went cliff jumping, he swam in the clearest blue sea, he rode an elephant, slid down a waterfall and even managed to share a beer with a monkey.

"He met and befriended people from all over the world, some of them who are here today, which shows how much of an impact he had on people. He loved his family and wanted nothing more than to see his sister succeed.

"He was a clever and ambitious young man. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to know Steve and have memories I will cherish for the rest of my life."

Stephen's childhood friend Karl Mason paid tribute to his ability to "excel" in everything that he did.

Mr Mason's tribute, also read by Father Brothwood, said: "My first emotion was anger at the cutting short of such a promising young life. Stephen was my best friend, and losing him in such tragic circumstances is like feeling a part of me is now missing.

"What I take comfort from, are the many fond memories of the times we had."

Mr Mason talked about Stephen being the life and soul of the party and recalled how he would check his hair "on every single reflecting surface" while on nights out in Croydon.

He also paid tribute to how former Riddlesdown Collegiate student Stephen, of Verulam Avenue, Purley, supported his family after his father John died from a brain tumour in 2011.

Mr Mason added: "It didn't matter if it was just one other person or a big group, he was always up for a night out, and someone would have to put up with his suspect dance moves.

"Stephen's life may have been short, but he made every moment count and made a lasting impression on many people's lives.

"My best friend, it has been an honour.

"You may no longer be with us, but you will never be forgotten."

Following the 30-minute service, Stephen's body was taken to Croydon Crematorium.

A wake was held at Addington Palace Gold Club.

The Ashton family are asking for donations to the Seve Ballesteros foundation, supporting Cancer Research, which can be made online here. A family statement on the donation page reads: "We know that Stephen would have wanted any monies donated in his [father's] memory to go towards brain tumour research and any project that could lead to advancements in the treatment of this cancer."

A DISGRUNTLED neighbour is taking the man next door to court over the noise coming from his swimming pool.

Ian Winston, of Woodplace Lane, Coulsdon, is prosecuting Keith Bradford under the Environmental Protection Act for a "noise nuisance" caused by pool equipment.

He claims to have measured 58 decibels of sound – about the level of normal conversation – from inside the detached house just metres away.

But Mr Bradford has dismissed any noise as a "slight humming", adding the row began with a disagreement over a barking dog.

The pair appeared side by side at Croydon Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, when Mr Bradford confirmed he will be contesting the civil case.

Warned he would have to prove the offence to a "criminal standard", Mr Winston said: "I have correspondence from him which I believe proves there was a nuisance and he was aware of it.

"I have measurements of the noise. I have taken my own readings from inside the house; 58 decibels.

"My understanding is there is not a threshold level for nuisance – it is just a nuisance that interferes with your way of life and my enjoying my home.

"It does not have to be a specific level, it is just a nuisance."

Countering that there was "a noise from any property", Mr Bradford said: "Mr Winston refuses to put up a fence. I have got a noise because of his dog, which is what started all this off.

"The noise level is not anywhere near – and it has been assessed by Croydon Council – it is not anywhere near a nuisance level.

"That is what they have said to me."

Speaking after Tuesday's hearing, Mr Bradford said he thought the case was sparked by his complaints about Mr Winston's dog.

He said: "I complained about his dog because it was barking and coming onto my garden and my lawn.

"Then, because I have the pool, he complained about that.

"There is an acceptable noise level the World Health Organisation sets, but the council said it is nowhere near that."

Mr Bradford will face trial at Croydon Magistrates' Court on March 8.

He could be issued with a court order if the case against him is proven.

A FORMER Croydon councillor has won the seat on Lambeth Council which was held by new Croydon North MP Steve Reed.

Mr Reed resigned from the council after winning the Parliamentary by-election caused by the death of Malcolm Wicks. Last week, Martin Tiedemann held on to the Brixton Hill seat, increasing the Labour majority of around 500 won by Mr Reed at the last elections in 2010, to 1,250.

Mr Tiedemann, 36, works full-time for the Co-operative movement, and was a Croydon councillor between 1998 and 2006, when he stood down.

He represented the old Whitehorse Manor ward and, after boundary changes, moved to West Thornton in 2002.

He said: "I have very mixed feelings about the victory. I am pleased to have won the seat and increase the majority, but sad that the opportunity only became available because of Malcolm's death."

I'M HOPING to have Jacob Butterfield on loan until the end of the season, instead of one month.

I really like him and he's a good passer of the ball. He's had it tough, as he just got in the team at Barnsley then everybody was talking about him.

Premier League clubs were fighting over him and he went to Norwich City, but they bought him injured, so it was pretty frustrating, but he's a nice, down-to-earth lad and it's about getting that balance right.

The bad news is we've lost Alex Nimely for three to four weeks. He tore a piece of his hamstring against Bolton last week and it's a little bit more serious than we were hoping, so it's probably four weeks he's going to be out.

I think we'll be looking at bringing in someone again.

However, I will never talk about anybody else's player because you could upset your owner and you can also upset that club – you should never talk about anybody and I never will.

However, DJ Campbell won't be coming to us from Queens Park Rangers.

I've allowed David Wright to go to Gillingham and we're working on trying to get him there.

I think the reason he isn't there already is that my chairman and their chairman are discussing bits and pieces, but that's none of my business.

Owen Garvan has got a knee injury at the moment as we know. The chairman and I spoke about his contract situation on Monday and I think he was going to give him a ring to say we were talking and thinking about him.

But we don't know when he's going to be fit yet.

At the moment I just want to help my players rather than concern myself about their future yet. I just want them to keep winning and getting back to winning ways because we're still in a fantastic position.

Cardiff City are getting stronger and stronger, so good luck to them, and we're being as busy as we've ever been, I would suggest.

We've got some decent targets, but whether we can get them, I don't know. I just can't name names I'm afraid.

This weekend we've got no game but I'll still be busy and I'm going scouting.

I'll be going to watch a specific transfer target that we've already enquired about and maybe try to finalise a bid we've been making.

It's exciting for me as I know what we need. I've been at the club long enough now to help this group and make us stronger.

I don't think we're as strong as some of the other squads and I'm going to try to strengthen other areas.

To be honest, every fan will have their idea of where that is but I'm on it, and Steve and I have had good conversations and we've got a great scouting network.

I've got my own people from the last 17 years and I've done all right in the transfer market to say the least.

So I'm looking forward to putting my mark on this group very soon.

JOHN SALAKO says the world is Wilfried Zaha's oyster as he looks set for a big money move to Manchester United.

The former Palace star says the 20-year-old has all the raw talent to succeed at the highest level, adding that a reported £12 million move to the 19-time champions of England could only inspire the Palace youngster, who won his first England cap in November.

"He has got incredible talent," said Salako, who made 215 appearances for the Eagles between 1986 and 1995.

"I am not surprised that Sir Alex is coming in for him as he was sensational when we beat Man Utd in the cup last year.

"He is strong, he can run with the ball and can take on defenders and he has great skill.

"He maybe just needs to learn to be a bit more of a team player, but he will get that at United."

And Salako said there was no better place for Zaha to develop than under the tutelage of Sir Alex Ferguson, with the Sky television pundit likening the 20-year-old winger to United heroes such as Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo.

"He is very much in the mould of players like Giggs and Ronaldo," said the former Coventry, Reading and England winger.

"Sir Alex has always liked his great wingers and Wilfried certainly has that ability.

"He just needs to have that desire to keep improving and be the best player he can be.

"And there will be no better place than training with those players everyday – being at the biggest club in the world with the chance to win trophies can only inspire you."

Salako said Zaha's friends and family would be important to help him stay grounded, adding that he should not take any notice of the price tag and instead see it as a massive confidence boost that he is wanted by Sir Alex.

"He seems very strong-minded," said Salako.

"He seems like he has a great heart and he loves his football, it's about the attitude and desire."

But Salako sounded a warning to Zaha, citing former academy star John Bostock - who has failed to shine since moving to Spurs - as an example of where it can go wrong.

"He undoubtedly had the talent, but not the attitude," said Salako.

"We have seen it happen too often with people moving on at a young age and there is a massive pressure for it to work out.

"But I think people like Nathaniel Clyne have done it the right way, playing 120 games for the club and learning his trade and now he has made a seamless move into the Premier League.

"To be honest, I think he could have gone to a top side, but then you look at people like Victor Moses, who went to Wigan and had to bide his time with other players there, but now he has stepped up and got a move to one of the big teams."

However, Salako said he felt Zaha, like Clyne, was very grounded, adding that he was no longer a kid in the modern game.

"It is about maturity," he said.

"Different players get there at different times, but if you mix a good attitude with ability, then success will come."

Meanwhile, Salako believes it will be a good deal for Palace if they can, as reported, keep Zaha until the summer.

"Of course, we don't like to see players go, but if he can help us get to the play-offs and somehow into the Premier League, it will be invaluable to Palace with the money that comes with it."

A 25-YEAR-OLD who lost his mother on January 9 now fears losing the house where he grew up.

Danny Christie and his late mother Brenda Levett hoped succession rules would allow him to stay in the council house in Uvedale Crescent, New Addington, where they have lived since 1988.

But he says he was warned by a council tenancy officer he may be asked to move because he now has more rooms than he needs, especially given the pressing need for housing in the borough.

Mr Christie, who says he is working and able to pay the extra share of rent on the house, said: "It is all I have ever known. All mum was worried about was the house and me and making sure everything was OK in the future.

"To find this out at 25, that because of the housing situation I might have to move, is terrible." Brenda, who was 67, was known to hundreds on the New Addington estate for her work selling Avon cosmetics. She had also worked for the National Autistic Society as a carer at the St Edwards home. Friends paid tribute to Brenda last week, with one telling the Advertiser ' 'she could always make you feel better, no matter how bad you felt'.

A council spokesman said it was "in the process of arranging to meet Mr Christie to discuss his housing situation".

He added: "His current property has two spare bedrooms and we need to balance this with the needs of families awaiting housing. We look forward to working with Mr Christie to help him find a smaller, more suitable home."

He added the council has, on average, "ten cases a year" of under-occupying successors who are asked to move.

THE dedicated family of Lillian Groves have been presented with an award by a national road safety charity.

The Groves family have been named Brake's Road Safety Campaigner of the Year for their tireless efforts to change the law on drug-driving.

The award was in recognition of the remarkable progress of Lillian's Law, which was named after 14-year-old Lillian Groves who was killed outside her home in New Addington by a speeding driver who had taken cannabis.

Since it began less than 18 months ago the campaign, launched jointly with the Advertiser, has been backed by more than 20,000 people, won the support of the Prime Minister and led a new drug-driving offence to be included in last year's Queen's Speech.

Lillian's mother, Natasha Groves, her aunt Michaela and her cousin Megan were presented with the award during Brake's annual reception at the Houses of Parliament last Wednesday.

Julie Townsend, the charity's deputy chief executive, said: "The Groves family can feel very proud of what they have achieved in memory of Lillian.

"They took their campaign to the very top, pushing their message through the local and national media, and then meeting the Prime Minister, achieving a firm commitment from Government.

"Great progress is now being made on developing the details of this important new drug-driving law and a roadside testing regime.

"The Groves have been instrumental in effecting this change.

"Speaking out after a sudden and utterly devastating bereavement and pushing a campaign through takes incredible strength."

After receiving the award, Michaela said: "It's nice to be recognised by such a big charity which has pushed for a change on drug-driving themselves but their voices haven't, unfortunately, been heard.

"I often wonder why has it taken us to get this moved forward? It's a bit overwhelming.

"The campaign has been difficult for every single person who has been a part of it.

"I know Natasha found it tough to begin with but she's become very determined. Now I think she is scared what will happen once it's all finished.

"The campaign keeps her going.

"It makes her feel she is doing something good for society and for Lillian."

Natasha added: "I was really surprised to win the award but it was good to get some recognition that we are trying to achieve something positive.

"But if it hadn't been for Lillian's fighting spirit we might have given up."

Lillian Groves was knocked down and killed outside her home in Headley Drive, New Addington, in June 2010.

John Page, the speeding driver, had taken cannabis before getting behind the wheel but received just an eight-month jail sentence.

FLOOD alerts have been issued across the UK today thanks to heavy overnight rainfall and rapidly melting snow.

The Met Office has warned that this combination is likely to lead to "localised surface water" and river flooding. 

The Environment Agency had by mid-morning issued 53 flood alerts for areas in the south east of England.

Earlier this morning some flooding was reported on Junction 6 (anticlockwise) on the M25.

A total of 305 flood alerts had been issued for the UK and 64 flood warnings - where flooding is "expected."