Campaigners have been targeting South Croydon residents to encourage them to protest against government plans to introduce gay marriage.

Supporters of the Coalition for Marriage (C4M) handed Purley residents leaflets on Thursday calling on them to lobby their MP Richard Ottaway on the issue.

C4M’s national campaign director, Colin Hart, said: "Although Richard Ottaway says he agrees with redefining marriage, many of his constituents disagree with him.

“These plans are unpopular and divisive. The voters were ignored by the politicians, this was in no party’s manifesto and the public consultation was a sham."

The government plans to allow a free vote later this year on whether to allow same-sex couples the same legal rights of marriage as straight couples.