The stereotypical view of Croydon as a grey, characterless, concrete town is set to be reinforced as the council plans to scrap its colourful In Bloom competition.

Despite the borough scooping six national and regional titles in the past five years, the council wants to axe its annual contest to save cash.

Croydon Council wants to save £100,000 by not providing hanging baskets for the district centres and has decided not to run Croydon in Bloom or enter London in Bloom.

The move was criticised by politicians who said it would affect the town’s reputation and its residents’ morale.

Malcolm Wicks, MP for Croydon North, said: "In recent years hanging baskets and displays have really brightened up areas such as Thornton Heath and visibly lifted the town and created positive morale.

"It seems a shame that to save a mere £100,000 the council is pulling out all the floral displays. What is it trying to do, tear out the soul of Croydon?"

Croydon beat Edinburgh to become Britain in Bloom winners in 2009 and was named London in Bloom Champion of Champions in 2010.

A council spokesman said: "Croydon has not been invited to enter Britain in Bloom and because of the continuing unprecedented pressure on public finances, regrettably for this year at least, the council is not entering London in Bloom or holding a Croydon in Bloom event.

"When we asked residents last year what services they wanted us to protect they said very clearly frontline services should be maintained.

"However, that does not mean we will not be back at some point in the future to reclaim our titles, and we are still working hard to get more Green Flags for the borough’s parks."

Croydon has won a number of coveted awards since entering the competition in 2006.

It won the large city category four years in a row.

Last year, the borough was given a gold award and declared London in Bloom Champion of Champions.

But the concrete jungle slur has never been far from many people’s lips.

In 2009 the borough tied with Edinburgh for a silver gilt award in the national Britain in Bloom competition.

Croydon’s concrete reputation was brought up after the borough claimed victory as it edged ahead on points beating Scotland’s capital city and prompting the Edinburgh Evening News to call it a “soulless concrete jungle”.

John Barthorpe, of the Village Club in Selsdon, said he was disappointed the competition had been cancelled.

The club won three awards at last year’s London and Croydon in Bloom competitions and had people travel to Selsdon just to see their floral display.

Mr Barthorpe said: "We expected something like this with the cuts.

"We’ll still be putting out a display that should be in full bloom by June."