Croydon Council leader Hugh Malyan has called for an urgent meeting with Tesco in a constructive bid to explore ways of keeping the supermarket in New Addington.

In a letter to the company's property communications manager he said: "I am fully aware of the commercial pressures that businesses can experience and that hard decisions have to be made but I would have thought that the needs of the local community would feature as part of the decision."

Tesco announced to its staff in February that the shop would be closing on May 5 after 32 years on Central Parade.

In a written statement to the Guardian Councillor Malyan commented further. He said: "Even though tram and bus services are good, not all households in the area can afford the time or expense of shopping miles beyond their local district centre. It is not too late for Tesco to reconsider."