The best and worst things about Erdington in Birmingham, according to locals

I'm here today in Erdington, a suburb just five miles northeast of central Birmingham. It's an area with a fairly mixed reputation to outsiders. I thought I'd come along today to speak to people on the streets and find out if any myths surrounding Erdington can be safely shattered.

Angela says: “Well, Erdington itself, it's got local people - for instance the butchers there - you've got local shops that you can go to, but it is run down and it needs more money spending on it to build it up to speed.

"As I said, years ago it looked better and it looks grotty and tatty. They should be spending more money on the local people, not just in government, in these posh areas. It's like certain areas, they just let them go to pot, they don't really care about the area, they don't care about local people.”

Marwan says: “I would never say the best things about here, that was 15 years ago, this place was good. Right now it's not, it's a higher percentage rate of crackheads and drugs, where people are robbing the streets.

"Even the council is not doing anything about it because they are actually dumping everyone here from straight from jail to road, that's why you're getting the shoplifters, you're getting the bad people.

"Here used to be people sitting around having a coffee, but we can't even do that anymore. It's literally a very bad area, I would never recommend anyone to move here.”

Jamie says: “I think there's a great community spirit here, I've just been to the swimming baths for a swim and sauna etc. Great spirit, community there. It's a bit untidy obviously isn't it, we could do with tidying up a little bit and a lot of graffiti and that kind of thing, which could do with cleaning up.”

Paul says: “A few bulldozers wouldn't put it right and basically to see it in my eyes over the years and how it's become - there's no cleaning on the streets, the lighting, which is back anyway, is poor, there's that many muggings.

"Shoplifters are no problem, they run this town now, the shoplifters and the criminals and the druggies. We found three needles in that bin just behind me there yesterday from druggies, so really it's a free for all, but not for the people who wish to come here because there's nothing here anymore.”

John says: “I love it, people run it down and it's got its bad parts and good parts. Where I've been to London, it's got its good parts and its got its bad parts, so you just take it. And the best part of Erdington is the Charlie Hall down by on the bus road.”