Despite years of uncertainty forcing dozens of shops in Croydon to close down, many locals are still picking the town centre as their preferred shopping spot.

Plans for a huge £1.5 billion Westfield shopping centre in the town have been ditched, but the company behind the plans is yet to reveal an alternative, which has so far been two years in the works.

While Croydon locals have been waiting years for change, shoppers still flock to the town which they say has a good variety of shops, although they would like to see more.

On a rainy afternoon this week, the high street was fairly busy with shoppers. Some like Agnieszka Jenry, 40, think Croydon has all you need for a good day out shopping.

The 40-year-old from Beckenham said: “There is a good variety of shops, I like House of Fraser.

"I used to go to Bromley where there is a bit more variety but I think it’s easier to come and park in Croydon.”

Anthony Barrett,40,  passes the centre of town most days as walks down North End to get to the station.

“It is a busy area,” he said. “I come quite often, there is a good selection of shops.

"I walk through mostly to the station but I go to Primark to get things when I am going on holiday.”

While Lexcine Simpson, 27, had come to Croydon to do a bit of shopping from Penge.

She said: “I would say it’s a good place to come shopping, it’s close and I think it has the same selection as Bromley to be honest.

"I do think it could improve, there are a lot of closed shops, I would like to see a better shopping centre like Westfield here.”

Calvin Daniel, said more shops would encourage more people to come to Croydon and revealed he shops at Zara, H&M and JD Sports in the town centre.

The 26-year-old from South Croydon said: “I don’t come here very often but I think it is kind of nice to be honest, everything is pretty much here – different kind of shops.”

But it is not the experience of everyone. Adrienne Nicholson, 65, has lived in Croydon all her life and said she is often too scared to come into the town centre, she goes to West Wickham or Bromley instead.

She said: “It is a crying shame what has happened to Croydon, all the shops are closing. Croydon used to be the heart of nightlife but there is nothing like that anymore.

"I worked at Allders in the 70s, they looked after the staff, they have let that go to wreck.”

And Leslie Fey, who was visiting from Canada was struck by the litter in the town centre.

The 61-year-old who was visiting her daughter Carlie, who lives locally. She grew up in Elephant and Castle and remembers Croydon being a popular place to come shopping.

She said: “I noticed there is garbage everywhere. I think no matter where you are everybody should be involved in keeping things tidy.

“We used to come out here shopping sometimes but I think Croydon is definitely run down now.

"Some of the old stores I knew aren’t here anymore.”

Carlie Fey, 37, said shops staying open later would encourage her to shop in Croydon more often.

She said: “A lot of stuff in the Whitgift closes at 5pm so on days when I am in the office I can’t come and get stuff.

“I know a lot of the shops started closing when it was uncertain about whether Westfield would be coming.”

While Julie Blackburn, 40, said the town centre has gone downhill. She added: “There is a lot of crime with the youngsters, there needs to be more lighting and more security.

"So many shops have closed now, I think they need to do a whole new shopping centre.”