Croydon Council has urged people to stay “alert and vigilant” ahead of rumoured riots planned across the town centre.

It comes after a statement, circulating on social media, warning people to “avoid” Croydon due to possible riots today (August 7).

The council has denied any protest activity but it has urged people to remain “alert and vigilant” and to report any issues to the police.

It added: “We are working closely with the police and at this time there is no intelligence that we will see protest activity in Croydon.”

Violent scenes have played out nationwide over the week, after three young girls were killed in a stabbing in Southport on July 29.

False claims were spread online that the perpetrator was an asylum seeker, but the violence continued even after the lies were proven to be untrue.

Police have been injured, shop windows smashed and hotels housing asylum seekers targeted.

In a joint statement, political party leaders of Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Councillors Stuart King, Claire Bonham and Esther Sutton, said while it respects the right of peaceful protest, it will “not stand by and allow violence, intimidation or any other form of criminal behaviour”.

They said: “We, the representatives of the four elected political parties of Croydon Council have come together to say we are shocked and saddened to see the recent media coverage of public disorder and unrest across the UK.

“In Croydon, we have a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime.”

Council leaders have said they are proud of Croydon and its diversity and the maturity of the relationships between its communities.

They explained: “Our diversity is our strength – and we know how our communities come together in times of need.

“Nearly eight out of ten residents have told us that they feel they strongly belong to their neighbourhood, and that Croydon is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together.

“Now is the time for us to support each other, stand together and support our Croydon communities.”