Jude Hobe, 77, from Benson Road, has lived in Croydon her whole life. She said: "I am disappointed that St George's walk is being shut down in favour of a new shopping centre.

"I can remember shops like Turtles hardware store as always being here and I wonder what is going to replace them.

"My grandson works in Turtles and has done for five years, what is he meant to do now? Surely the shopping centres we already have are enough.

"And there just aren't enough local police patrols anymore, it's worrying when you have groups of young men hanging around at the bottom of your street causing trouble."