Plans to replace Croydon's GP practices with 'super-surgeries' have been dropped following concern from the public.

Croydon's Primary Care Trust (PCT) had been consulting the public throughout the summer about the plan that would have abolished 70 local GP surgeries and replaced them with Primary Care Centres.

But the scheme met opposition from the public who feared they would lose the personal touch of their family GP and have to travel further for treatment.

Croydon PCT's director of primary care commissioning, Sue Arnold, said: "The PCT's Board considered the findings in August, and, in light of feedback, took the decision not to progress with the proposals in their current form.

"Instead we will build on the consultation's findings as we undertake further development work on the future shape of primary care services for Croydon."

Croydon South's Conservative MP Richard Ottaway said he was delighted the PCT had dropped the plans.

"Over the summer I have been running a survey seeking the views of my constituents on the proposals by the PCT to scrap GP practices and build 'super-surgeries' across the borough. I have been inundated with completed surveys and letters on this subject," he said.

Mr Otttaway added: "It is quite clear to me that the Government has told the PCT that the current structure of primary care services in Croydon needs to change and I will be keeping a close eye on what further proposals the PCT comes up with."