Residents of ‘forgotten town’ linked to knife crime and anti-social behaviour determined to change its image for good

A ‘forgotten’ town which has a tough reputation linked heavily to anti-social behaviour, knife crime and murders is in desperate need of a rebrand, residents say.

The West Lancashire town of Skelmersdale, which borders Greater Manchester and Merseyside, has, in the last few years, become a typical target for county lines dealers due to its pockets of deprivation.

But residents who live there say they are tired of being associated with the wrong-doers who dominate the narrative and are trying their best to make it a nice place where local people feel supported and welcomed.

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Best known as a mining town, things in Skelmersdale dramatically changed in 1961 when it was designated as one of the government's New Towns and lined up for rapid growth, reports Lancs Live.

As an influx of housing arrived in the area - with the majority of housing built in rows of estates whose roads all had single names - families moved in largely from Liverpool and the town was earmarked as having potential for a population of 80,000. However, the development was never fully complete and only half of that figure was reached, with much needed jobs not being there for people.

Combined with poor public transport options, it led to Skelmersdale laying claim to some of the most deprived areas in the country. Today, issues of anti-social behaviour continue to frustrate and cause problems for those living in the town.

Among the most recent examples, a newly built play area which is part of the new town centre was repeatedly vandalised and subjected to