Angry residents are calling on Croydon Council to replace a dangerous wall which partially collapsed six months ago.

The brick wall separates the gardens of properties in Cornwall Gardens, Tennison Road, which back on to South Norwood Recreation Ground.

After a six year battle with residents Croydon Council admitted to ownership and responsibility for the wall, but have said they will replace it with weldmech fence which will cost £15,810, compared to the £62,181 cost they have been quoted for rebuilding the wall.

But residents have rejected their solution.

Rod Dumbrill garden has been left completely exposed by the collapse of the wall.

He said: "The council have now finally admitted ownership of the wall after a six year battle.

"Their wilful neglect and irresponsible attitude have caused the wall to collapse.

"They are now imposing a flimsy wire fence as a replacement, but this will destroy our basic right to privacy and prejudice our security. It is absolutely outrageous."

Mr Dumbrill and his neighbours have started a petition and collected over 180 signatures in support of a like-for-like wall to be built.

The petition will be handed in at a full council meeting on July 2, by South Norwood councillor Wayne Lawlor.

Cllr Lawlor said: "It is only sheer luck no-one was killed or seriously injured as a result of the wall collapsing.

"Now Croydon Council have accepted liability, it is time for them to replace the wall like-for-like and maintain environmental standards."

A spokesman for Croydon Council said: The responsibility for the wall has been unclear for years because it goes back to the 1800s and it has been under a complex covenant which historically lay with the Church Commissioners.

"Our role is to mark the boundary, however, we are proposing to put up an 8ft fence, as we don’t have to replace like with like and it is a considerably more viable option than building a wall.

"The fence would be similar to those used in other parks around the borough."