Trams coated in slippery paint, introduced after a schoolboy was killed "surfing" the high-speed vehicle, has dramatically cut the reported number of youths taking part in the craze, Tramlink revealed this week.

Schoolboy Christopher Tidbury, from Mitcham, was killed instantly when he fell from the moving tram after jumping on the back of the vehicle, an inquest into his death revealed earlier this month.

The 16-year-old had been taking part in the dangerous craze of tram surfing, which involves hanging from the back of the moving carriage.

Christopher had slipped off the win dscreen when the tram started to brake as it neared the Beckenham Road plat form in the early hours of May 20 this year.

He was then run over by two trams before his body was found.

In the wake of Christopher's death, Tramlink implemented drastic measures to stop people from hanging on to moving trams, which had become a common trend before the fatal accident.

"Burglar-proof" paint has since been put on the windscreens of all trams in Croydon, making the surface too slippery to hold on to.

Charles Tom linson, head of safety at Tramlink, said: "We've noticed a dramatic reduction in drivers reporting tram surfers since.

"We are also looking at further safety measures such as making the shape of part of the tram' s exterior more curved.

"This will make it virtually impossible for anyone trying to tram surf to get a good footing."

December 20, 2001 13:00