Residents in a Lancashire town with huge areas of deprivation have spoken out about their lives.
Skelmersdale, near Wigan, is unique in that it is home to both extremely deprived areas and places where people are generally well-off.
While some live comfortably, others are 'crying their hearts out' for help, struggling for basic amenities like food and nappies for their children.
Data mapping from the Consumer Data Research Centre (CDRC) illustrates the stark contrasts between different areas of the town.
And, LancsLIve spoke to people living there to find out how this disparity effects them.
Parts of the town, including the town centre, Tanhouse and Digmoor, rank as some of the most deprived areas around.
But, better off neighbourhoods include large swathes of Upholland, along with northern parts of Ashurst.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Ormskirk is also shown to be largely prosperous by the map, which uses “indices of deprivation” - a combination of metrics to give a uniform score to rank deprivation.
Recent statistics show that the level of unemployment in this part of West Lancashire is no higher than the nation average.
However, the percentage of people with no qualifications whatsoever in the area was almost double the regional and national figures, with 14 percent of people listed as having no qualifications at all, compared with 7.6 percent in the north west and 6.4 percent in Great Britain.
Margaret Highton, director of Evermoor Hub in Digmoor which runs a community shop and food bank for the people of Skelmersdale - often called Skem - said she'd seen three 'desperate' cases at the food bank this week alone - and more investment was needed in the area.
She said: "There are new houses but no amenities, like a sports centre or a place for kids to go. Skem is a beautiful place - we have got the Beacon - but there's nothing to do. Bus services are not good and come the winter, that's it - there's nothing down for you in Skem."
Highlighting how the centre had helped 650 people over Christmas last year by providing toys and food, she said she had seen three desperate cases among the people who had flocked to the centre this week for help.
She added: "People have been crying their hearts out. A young woman has just been crying as she had no nappies for her baby. She came in for a food parcel and was stuffing the food into her mouth.
"The baby was about six months old; it's a common scene. We had three desperate cases in the last week, including a young man who had not eaten for two days."
Adding that local firms were very generous, she said: "The government should step up and give more funding to the council.."
Digmoor resident and mum of two Sam Rimmer said: "I avoid going out - there's too many kids hanging around smoking smoking weed. Give the kids somewhere to go; invest in their education and in something outside school. "
Dasa Sajgalova, also a local resident and mum, who works at nearby Cappy, a convenience store selling eastern European food in Digmoor Shopping Parade, said she didn't agree with the survey.
She said: "People think this is a bad area but I have never had any problems with anybody. It's a nice community, I have a lot of friends and I walk home at night by myself.
"A few times, we have had to call police because kids were throwing fireworks, but they stopped after that."
Leader of West Lancashire Borough Council, Councillor Ian Moran said there were problems across the county and that levelling up was a high priority.
Councillor Moran highlighted how new developments such as a new railway station and more investment in the town centre would also bring more prosperity to Skelmersdale, adding how discussions were currently in the early stages over proposals to build a new business park off junction 4 of the M58 while plans have been mooted for new devolved powers in Lancashire for local authorities next year.
He said: “The work that’s ongoing at the train station is going to be a a massive game changer that will open up the world of work to our residents, so they will be able to commute to places like Manchester and Liverpool to get better jobs.
“In the 12 years I have been a councillor, we have never had an increase in funding from the central government, and it’s getting harder and harder. It’s keeping the streets as clean as possible, it’s emptying the bins.
“But our primary schools throughout Skelmersdale are doing well and our secondary schools are getting better; we have got West Lancashire College doing A levels. It’s about getting a joined up experience for our young people as they are the ones that are going to be cracking this vicious cycle of deprivation."
He added: “Hopefully, in the future, devolution plans will bring more benefits to the people of Lancashire, and in turn, to the people of Skelmersdale.”
Anyone wishing to contact Evermoor Hub or to find out more about how to help can get in touch with them on 01695 727483.
