A member of Croydon's Green Party has labelled the provision of kerbside recycling in the borough "a postcard lottery", after an expansion of the service was announced this month.

Shasha Khan said the system was being used as an electioneering tool in marginal wards, and last month successfully predicted which ones were going to be picked in a mock sweepstake outside Taberner House.

Upper Norwood, South Norwood, Sanderstead, Kenley and Coulsdon East are to be provided with green waste recycling from May 28 and a second recycling box for plastics, cardboard and batteries, later in the year.

Bar Sanderstead, these wards were predicted by Mr Khan who said they would be closely contested at the next local elections.

He said: "We all pay the same council tax, but if wards are being selected purely on the basis of council gain then people are being punished because of the ward they live in and will miss out on improvements."

Speaking about the expansion of services, cabinet member for streets and environmental services, Councillor Phil Thomas said: "We're in no doubt residents will recycle more if we make it easier for them. We're still at the learning stage with kerbside recycling and the large scale trials we are carrying out are helping to refine the operation."