A Croydon mum tired of antisocial behaviour in her area is turning to politics and standing in the council elections in May.

Donna Treanor, 42, of Cecil Road, has joined forces with two other women to form the greater London branch of the Mums' Army a political party launched by women's magazine Take A Break.

"Sometimes you feel helpless but there's no point moaning, you have to get out there and do something about it," said the mum-of-one who has lived in the borough for more than a decade.

"I'm sick of all the petty crime and nothing ever seems to get done about it. Every week there seems to be a car with windows broken round here."

Donna wrote to Take A Break in January to express her interest in joining Mums' Army and she now plans to stand for election in the West Croydon ward in May.

"I've always been interested in politics and I want to make a difference to people. We won't be fobbed off," she said.

According to Take A Break's editor John Dale, the army already has 10,000 supporters and 122 candidates ready to stand for council election as part of "the fastest-growing political party".

He said: "People have lost faith in the ability of police and other authorities to combat the wave of antisocial behaviour that is ruining thousands of people's lives."