More than 300 children across the borough received a special gift this Christmas as part of the Commissioner's 'Give a Gift' Christmas Tree campaign.

Fifty Croydon children attended Santa's Grotto in Centrale Shopping Centre to receive their special gift, donated by members of the public in the run-up to Christmas.

Croydon Council's Children's Services team delivered the other 250 presents to children in foster care around the borough.

Officers and Cadets also visited Croydon University Hospital to deliver 25 gifts to children in the 'Rupert Bear' ward.

The Metropolitan police appeal was launched in November and was part of a campaign across all London boroughs, which has seen almost 7,000 gifts donated.

Almost 600 presents were donated in Croydon, with officers speaking with Croydon Council to make arrangements for the remaining presents to be distributed to other children in the borough.

In Croydon, the appeal was supported by Croydon Council, Croydon Business Improvement District and Centrale Shopping Centre, which has also been collecting gifts from the public for the campaign.

Croydon Volunteer Police Cadets helped out by wrapping hundreds of gifts and assisting with the special visits to Santa's Grotto at Centrale.