A smartphone app to report fly-tipping and vandalism has been released by Croydon Council after a previous version which cost the council £18,000 stopped working.

On Monday, the Don’t Mess with Croydon app, which cost about £20,000, was introduced as a way of reporting a range of issues.

The old My Croydon app was taken offline in May in an attempt to improve the ‘digital offering’ for residents.

At the time, a Croydon Council spokesman said the app, which had a two star rating on the iTunes App Store, cost the council £18,000.

In the new app, residents can pick from 17 categories and drop a pin on a map, there is also the option of attaching a photo.

Cllr Stuart Collins, deputy leader and cabinet member for clean, green Croydon, said: “No-one ever wants anything to go wrong but pavements deteriorate and rubbish may, unfortunately, be fly-tipped.

“The Don’t Mess with Croydon app makes it easier to report this directly to the right team so we can get the problem fixed as quickly as possible.

“The app is free to download and you can help make Croydon cleaner and greener for everyone to enjoy.”