HUNDREDS of residents enjoyed lunch with their neighbours on Sunday as a host of street parties and fun days were held across the borough.

It was all part of the Big Lunch initiative, which aims to increase community spirit around the country.

MUSICAL MEDLEY: Hilary Gee on the electric organ with some of her neighbours from Birdhurst Avenue, South Croydon
RELAXING DAY: Bea Paci and Maya Szczelkun at the Grangewood Park lunch
Photo No: Grangewood Park03 by Neale Atkinson
PARK LIFE: Maisee Taylor, aged eight months, on a swing in Grangewood Park
HAMMER BLOWS: Two children at the lunch in Chipstead Valley Road, Coulsdon
TEA TIME: Children at the lunch in Purley
GRUB'S UP: PC Stuart McCrae, from Purley Safer Neighbourhood Team and Purley district centre manager Amber Rusk at the lunch in Purley
TASTE OF SPAIN: Leticia Freire and Jose Ortega cook up a giant paella in Coulsdon
JUMPING FOR JOY: Sophie Long, 11, on a bungee trampoline in Coulsdon

Dog grooming, story-telling and drumming workshops were some of the events held at Grangewood Park, in South Norwood, where more than 200 people gathered.

Megan Farr, who is on the committee of the Friends of Grangewood Park, said: "It was a nice sunny day and people couldn't believe that everything was for free.

"Everybody was saying it was really good to see the park being used and there was a nice community feeling."

About 50 people gathered on the green in Semley Road, Norbury, in an event organised by the Central Norbury Residents' Association and Norbury Village Residents' Association.

Rhona Fairbairn, chair of the latter, said: "It was about neighbours getting together and feeling safe in their environment.

"When you get to know each other you feel more at home and can actually have a unified force against issues in the area."

Part of Birdhurst Avenue, in South Croydon, was shut off to traffic as around 35 neighbours listened to music and enjoyed a bite to eat.

Organiser Hilary Gee said: "We had some amazing food, from West Indian dishes to Asian dishes and a massive fruit salad.

"One little girl, aged three, from up the road brought Rice Krispie cakes which she had decorated herself."

In Purley town centre, children painted mugs and plates for residents at the Sunrise Senior Living care home, on Russell Hill Road.

The event took place on the paved triangle outside Andrews Estate Agents in Brighton Road and saw guests tucking into food supplied by local businesses.

In Chipstead Valley Road, Coulsdon, there was plenty to keep children entertained.

This included a helter-skelter and bungee trampolines being set up.

On Sunday a lunch was also held in the car park of the CALAT centre, in Sandown Road, South Norwood, with more than 50 people attending.

Two days earlier, the Upper Norwood Association for Community Care hosted its Big Lunch at the Waterside Centre in Avenue Road, South Norwood.

About 50 people of all ages came together for a fish and chip lunch.