Newton-le-Willows is a market town sitting on the edge of Merseyside with a small population of around 22,000.
However for many living on one side of the town, it may feel like a tale of two cities.
The western side of the town consists mainly of Earlestown, a built up area with supermarkets, bus and train stations, and an array of smaller shops. While the eastern side includes the popular High Street area.
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While Newton-le-Willows was recently named as one of the hottest spots in the country to move to by property site Rightmove, Earlestown perpetually struggles, and a walk through the town centre reflects this. Lack of footfall and disposable income means by 3pm on a weekday, many shutters are down on shops already.
Figures from the Office for National statistics show areas Earlestown are in the top 5% of most deprived areas in Europe.
How can one side of the town appear to be flourishing while the other struggles?
The ECHO spoke to some business owners in both Earlestown and on the booming High Street for their views.
Wendy Penberthy has worked in her shop on Market Street, Earlestown, selling gifts collectables and household items for 17 years. She believes that despite the lack of footfall around the town centre, it is the locals that keep the economy going.
Wendy told the ECHO: "It's the community, it's very tight-knit and it's the regulars that keep you going. I really like it here because of that, it's about the people.
"Years ago when you had the market booming the town centre was a lot better off, but it's sort of been left to wreck and ruin, you have shutters down on a lot of shops so people don't bother.
"It seems like the council really are drawing up plans to try and help so I am hopeful."
Another shop owner in Earlestown town centre, who did not want to be named, also shared their views with the ECHO.
They said: "There has never been a bigger gap between Earlestown and Newton. I've lived here all my life, I remember going into Sayers with my mum buying cakes as a kid. The town was booming, but it's just been left to rot.
"When you walk through Earlestown you can see the difference, all the buildings on Newton High Street have hanging baskets and are nicely decorated but up here it seems a bit like people don't care.
"We have another business that helps us keep going, we wouldn't be able to just depend on this one."
Debbie Makin opened her store Willow Womenswear & Home on Newton's High Street five years ago.
She told the ECHO : "We were one of the first shops like this to set up on this strip, and the shop does really well.
"Unfortunately I think a lot of the reason Earlestown struggles is because of the name that's been attached to it, there's obviously issues there but there is everywhere. But there is a bad name sort of attached to the area and it shouldn't be like that."
Just across the road from Debbie's shop sits Drinksworthy, a craft beer and wine shop opened just under a year ago.
The store's owner said: "We looked at both Earlestown and Newton when opening, we did have some concerns about security opening in Earlestown, and I live closer to Earlestown.
"There is definitely a stigma but I think it's time for a change, there should be, Earlestown has huge potential, there's a bus station, train station, it's a little gem. It just needs work."
