A policeman has said a stronger community has arisen since the riots hit the town last year.

Andy Hewlett, who works in Lambeth but lives with his partner on Church Street, took it upon himself to protect the nearby Argos store from looters. He protected the store for more than an hour, even though he was off duty.

He said: "I got out the front door and saw Argos getting turned over so it was my public duty to go and do something. "Croydon is Croydon and it gets one with it. There is a sense of community now though, especially in the Old Town part. It is rough round the edges but people are concerned at what goes on in the community.

"I don’t think it will happen again as I don’t think the local community would let it happen. There would be a public outrage if people started rioting again."