None of Croydon's three MPs attended a key debate on knife crime last week in the Commons.

Knife crime in the borough is high on most people's agenda, with a 42-year-old the latest victim of a blade attack two weeks ago.

But Richard Ottoway, Malcolm Wicks and Andrew Pelling were all absent at the House of Commons debate on Thursday last week.

Mr Ottoway, MP for Croydon South, said he was in a meeting of the Intelligence and Security Committee, the contents of which he could neither confirm nor deny due to the Official Secrets Act.

He added: "This was a topical debate which are always put on at short notice - less than 24 hours - relating to a press release by Gordon Brown that morning. It's quite difficult to rearrange things at such short notice. You can be concerned about a subject without being in the chambers."

Mr Wicks, MP for Croydon North, said his role as Minister for Energy kept him away. He added: "I had a ministerial meeting with the housing minister about trying to develop zero carbon housing, and then I had to go to Luxembourg for the European Union energy council."

Mr Wicks said he was on Radio 4's Any Questions? programme on Friday, May 30, where he stated he wanted anyone caught with a knife given a jail sentence.

Andrew Pelling, MP for Croydon Central, was absent through illness as he continues to battle stress and depression.