Croydon is the chavviest town in the country according to an online survey.

More than 4000 voters dubbed it the chavviest in the land for 2008.

The survey, on website chavtown.co.uk, saw Croydon net 22 per cent of the vote, more than 1,000 votes in front of its nearest rival Hull.

Used as a derogatory term, Webster’s New Millennium Dictionary of England defines a chav as “the lower class; uneducated and ignorant people”.

Being the chavviest town in 2008 adds to a dubious list of honours for Croydon including giving its name to the Croydon facelift - a hairstyle where girls scrape back their hair into a ponytail.

Describing Croydon, the site says: “Chavs come from far and wide to worship at the pikey temple that is the Whitgift Shopping Centre, a place that has more McDonalds, KFC’s and Burger Kings than any other place on the planet – many a chav family can be seen having their Sunday lunch in one of these fine eateries.

“However, night-time is when Croydon really comes into it’s [sic] own. The younger chavs are usually on their way home due to their curfew/electronic tags/time to feed the baby and this is when the older chavs (i.e: 15-20 yr olds) decide to descend on the Croydon ‘strip’.

Contributor marty_gill adds: “If anyone wants to see chavs in their natural environment and run the risk of getting mugged, stabbed, raped, glassed, shot or just plain ‘dissed’ then come down to Croydon, it’s even got Chav trams which are free to chavs.”

Council leader Mike Fisher leapt to Croydon’s defence, saying the survey was unfair.

He said: "I don't take much notice of these silly websites.

"I imagine half the people who took part in this survey haven't been anywhere near Croydon.

"I've been to other places that could claim the title over Croydon."

  • What do you think? Is Croydon the “chavvies” town in Britain? Or is the survey unfair? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.