Residents won their battle for privacy this week, and celebrated the arrival of a new gate barring tram users climbing over the tram stop fence into the alleyway running past their Addiscombe homes.

Residents of Tenterden Road and Tenterden Gardens had become concerned about the volume of Blackhorse Lane stop passengers using their private back alleyway as a short cut.

They had feared it could become a recognised right of way.

Ward councillor Avril Slipper asked council officers to include the site within Croydon's "alleygater" crime-prevention scheme.

Part funded by the council, it restricts alleyway access to authorised key holders. Tramlink has agreed that it will meet the other half of the £800 expense.