Battling the Fiveways crossroads during weekday lunchtimes is hard at the best of times, as hundreds of drivers make their way along Purley Way.

But last week, as I made my way from Croydon town centre, I found myself in a stickier situation than normal.

As I tried to cross the junction I realised I was suddenly battling two men armed with water bottles standing in the middle of the road.

And they were moving towards me.

Before I knew it, I couldn't see out of my windscreen for the foam that had suddenly engulfed my car.

Trying to avoid getting into a lather, I shook my head to rid myself of the smiley, seemingly good-willed window washers.

People in the cars around me seemed to be having far more luck saying no - what was I doing wrong?

Fearing that the lights may change, the only option was a quick flick of the windscreen wipers. That got them.

The men looked shocked and I was worried a confrontation might be on the cards, but I was suddenly saved by the green light.

As I looked back through my rear-view mirror, the next batch of cars lined up at the lights were about to get the same treatment from the bottle squad.