Grim reality of life on one of Birmingham's busiest streets

FAMILIES ARE FIGHTING BACK AGAINST A TIDE OF DRINK, DRUGS, HMOS AND BOOKIES, SAYS HANDSWORTH ACTIVIST

- STEPHANIE BALLOO

One of the best-known and busiest routes into Birmingham is becoming increasingly intolerable for local residents.

THREE men slump in a bus shelter, rambling and swigging from beer cans.

Across the street, a stumbling group shout in disagreement, drinks in one hand, cigarettes in another.

It's a sight more fitting of a Saturday night on Broad Street - but this is 9am on a Tuesday morning in one of Birmingham's busiest local high streets.

Here on Soho Road, Handsworth, the spiralling problem of alcohol and drug abuse is only getting worse and is plain for all to see.

Recently six people were spotted all passed out in the middle of the street after a 'bad batch' of the drug black mamba had found its way to users.

Though a major arterial route through the city, Soho Road is one that's now synonymous with prostitution, antisocial behaviour and lately the “huge boom” of shared HMO hostels full of ex-cons and addicts.

Local families have become scared to shop in the area and some now even want to move from the place they've called home for decades.

But behind the scenes are those who are here to stay, a community that’s fighting to survive in an increasingly-challenging climate.

We took a walk along the busy mile-long strip with resident and community activist Shuranjeet Singh to hear the real story of Soho Road as locals battle for a brighter future.