Shoppers gave council officers tips on how to help turn Edmonton into a thriving town - and encourage people to ditch their cars in favour of bikes.

The corner of Church Street and Victoria Road was turned into a community hub, as Enfield Borough Council officers, together with charity Sustrans, spoke to residents about their views.

DIY Streets Edmonton is one of the first community led projects of its kind in the country, and is supported by the Big Lottery Fund.

It aims to create a safer way for children to travel to school by foot or bike, to promote healthier living.

People were keen to share their opinions - with many saying they would like to see flower baskets, more dog bins and less litter in the streets.

Veronica Conti, who works for the charity Sustrans, said: “It’s important for people to become active in changing their area, because the community knows better than we do.

“They are the experts after all. There’s so many schools around here and having safer streets for them is essential - one of the main points we want to advertise today is cycling.”

Trevor Stone, of Bouncers Lane, Enfield, is a keen cyclist and motorcyclist who is supporting the safer streets campaign.

He said: “By improving the roads, we will encourage more people to cycle to school. It’s a great way to stay fit and healthy.”