'The price of everything is just sky high'

Residents in Whitleigh said the cost of living, anti-social behaviour and access to services were big election issues for them

In the heart of the Plymouth Moor View constituency in Devon is Whitleigh, a neighbourhood residents describe as a "massive community" but one where many people are struggling. They cite the cost of living, anti-social behaviour and access to services as big election issues for them.

Five residents are sitting outside Porkies Cafe at Whitleigh Green enjoying a drink on a warm afternoon.

Sitting among them is cafe owner Dave Griffiths who moved to the area 17 years ago.

Dave Griffiths said "crime will never improve because people are skint"

Mr Griffiths says Whitleigh is "deprived" and it is hard for him to see problems such as anti-social behaviour improving any time soon.

"Crime will never improve because people are skint," he says.

"When you got drug addicts and alcoholics, they need crime to pay for their addiction."

Plymouth City Council describes Whitleigh as its fifth-most deprived ward out of 39 across the city.

In its latest neighbourhood profile in 2017, it says 9.5% of the suburb's population of 7,870 people were claiming Universal Credit.

This is higher than the city-wide figure of 5.6%, according to the council's figures.

Sharon Cross says the cafe wants to look after people

Busy cleaning tables inside the cafe is Mr Griffiths' partner Sharon Cross.

She says they are doing all they could to keep prices down despite energy bills being "through the roof".

"Food prices and everything are just sky high," she says.

"Everybody is feeling it."

She says ultimately the business took a "loss" as it wants to "look after people".

Their regulars agree the cafe is a source of support for many.

Resident Joanna Wickett dubs Porkies "the community hub".

"Everyone meets here," she says.

Lisa Pearce says of the community: "Everybody is there for everybody"

Suzanne Johnson, another resident, says she has lived in the area since 1996 and it had remained a "lovely community".

A few doors down from Porkies is Pearce's Snacks, a bakery and deli owned by Lisa Pearce.

Mrs Pearce is busy serving a couple of tradespeople who have popped in for a late lunch.

She says many in the area face struggles including the cost of living but adds other places experience similar problems across the country.

Reflecting on how residents supported one another, she says: "Everybody is there for everybody."

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Tom insisted he would not be voting in next week's general election

For Moor View resident Tom, who only provided his first name, the area needs more support from central government.

He says he has watched the area decline and more services are needed to help the elderly and children.

"If you want any help or advice disability-wise, you've got to go all the way into town," he says.

"It's not sensible, there needs to be more out here."

He adds: "The kids have got nothing to do."

Despite voting all of his life, Tom insisted he would not be voting in this general election.

"I've had enough now, there is nothing worth voting for," he says.

List of candidates for the Plymouth Moor View constituency:

Johnny Mercer - Conservative

Georgia Nelson – Green

Fred Thomas – Labour

Sarah Martin – Liberal Democrats

Shaun Hooper – Reform UK

You can use the BBC News lookup tool to find out which constituency you are in, who is standing as a candidate in your area and which polling station you can vote at.