A white squirrel, temples and the Thornton Heath clock tower have all been spray painted in a bid to curb fly tipping in the area.

As part of a campaign to tackle the problem, white stencilled designs have been sprayed to the pavement around signposts and lampposts.

The designs are also coated with reflective paint so they can be seen at night to deter would-be fly tippers.

The project is funded by the People’s Health Trust as part of Thornton Heath Community Action Team’s Street Action Project which has been running for more than a year.

Next summer will see two new murals created in Brook and Quadrant Road as well as five new lamp post planters in Melfort Road.

Gaetane Jones, the project coordinator, said the work is helping ‘not just turn heads but also turn hearts’.

The design was created by print designer Samantha Warren.

The Thornton Heath resident said: “This is a first for me. I have printed on many other surfaces; wallpaper, fabric, metal, plastic but not pavement before.

“I knew the idea had to be attractive and immediately thought of something pretty and circular to fit around a lamp post, something like a lace doily.

“This idea developed as I wanted to make the design personal to Thornton Heath and incorporate cultural references.

“I used motifs representing the CR7 postcode, Crystal Palace, the great local musical talents, the grocery stores, the temples, the clock tower and the legendary white squirrel from Grangewood Park to represent the community.”

Councillor Stuart Collins, deputy leader and cabinet member for clean, green Croydon, had a go spray painting some of the designs.

He added: “Thornton Heath has rallied together to try and tackle the problem with a novel and eye-catching solution.

“We will continue to support our communities to tackle the problems that matter the most to them.”