The number of booze-related injuries in Croydon town centre has fallen since the introduction of new drinking laws, new figures show.

Ambulance crews were called out more than 100 times less - the largest reduction in calls to the emergency service in the capital.

The new licensing system is marking its first anniversary this month.

The figures from the London Ambulance Service refer to the period between November 24 last year and October 31 this year.

Across the capital figures increased in total by two per cent. The total number of calls responded to by London Ambulance Service in the last year was 38,940 - compared to 37,731 over the same period last year.

However, in Croydon figures have been reduced by 103 calls from 1,368 to 1,265 in the last year, a drop of eight per cent.

The drop could be attributed to the London Ambulance Service's medical treatment centre that was run in the town centre on weekend evenings earlier this year.

It opened to treat patients with minor alcohol-related injuries or illnesses so that an ambulance did not need to be called out. The service has now been stopped, which could mean the figures leap again next year.

London Ambulance Service deputy director of operations, Russell Smith, said: "Since the new laws took effect we have not seen the huge rise in alcohol-related incidents that some feared, but there doesn't appear to have been a move towards the hoped-for cafe culture either."

Over the past 12 months approximately 1,000 licensed premises in Croydon have sought to renew their existing licence or apply for a new one, including off licences, restaurants, late-night takeaways, pubs, nightclubs and community halls.

Mr Smith added: "Calls relating to alcohol, whether simply illness from drink or injuries sustained from drunken behaviour or violence, continue to put us under unnecessary pressure.

"When ambulance crews are attending minor alcohol-related incidents it makes it harder for us to reach those patients who really need our help.

"We're not against people having a good time and we're not saying don't drink, but people need to take responsibility for how much they are drinking and enjoy alcohol safely."