New Addington has the second unhealthiest high street in the capital, with several others in Croydon making the top 30, according to figures released today.

The Royal Society for Public Health has published a league table of London places based on the proportion of businesses in their main shopping area found to either support or harm the public's health.

Bookmakers, payday loan shops, fast food takeaways and tanning salon shops are said to have the most negative impact on health.

The RSPH says pharmacies, leisure centres and health services are judged to have the most positive impact.

With New Addington as the second unhealthiest in London, just behind Whitechapel, South Norwood is the 18th and Thornton Heath comes in at number 20.

Judged to be slightly healthier are Norbury and Addiscombe at 28 and 29 respectively.

RSPH chief executive Shirley Cramer said: "While our ranking of towns and cities is by no means a reflection on whether these areas are generally healthy or unhealthy, our research does find higher concentrations of unhealthy businesses exist in places which already experience high levels of deprivation and premature mortality.

"We recognise that businesses investing in High Streets are important for local economies, but this shouldn’t be at any price."

The RSPH said it is calling on the next government to introduce a range of measures to make high streets promote healthier living.

These include councils being given greater planning powers to prevent betting shops, payday lenders and fast food outlets.

It said public health criteria should be a condition of licensing and also wants there to be a limit of five per cent of each type of business on a high street.

How unhealthy are Croydon’s high streets?

2. New Addington (second unhealthiest in the capital)

18. South Norwood

20. Thornton Heath

28. Norbury

29. Addiscombe

39. Coulsdon

69. Upper Norwood/ Crystal Palace

96. Purley

101. Selsdon

144. Whetstone in Barnet – judged to be London’s healthiest high street

Do you agree with the survey? Does having a lot of takeaways and payday loan shops make a town unhealthy? Have your say below or email your thoughts to rfisk@london.newsquest.co.uk