Two Midlands areas the 'poorest in UK' where people lie awake worrying about money

Residents in two areas of Birmingham are some of the poorest in the UK and have told how they have lost sleep over money worries. A nationwide study ahead of the general election sought to find out the places where most people were struggling with the cost of living and anxious about paying their bills.

And top of the list was Ladywood, followed closely by Yardley. Close to two-thirds of residents surveyed told how they had lost sleep 'often' or 'sometimes' over money worries.

It shows how the cost of living still dominates the thoughts of millions of people, particularly in poorer and more deprived parts of the UK. Other Midlands areas including Coventry East, Hodge Hill and Perry Barr made the top 10.

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In Ladywood, 62% of people said financial fears had kept them awake, while the figure was 59% in Yardley. Now campaign group 38 Degrees, which compiled the study, has urged the next Government to make addressing the cost of living one of its key priorities following the election.

CEO Matthew McGregor said: "There’s just one night to go before people in the West Midlands head to the ballot box. But while pundits pour over polls to try to predict who’ll come out on top in which seat, this poll has a much more important message.

"On the night before the general election, millions of people will be lying awake, worried about their financial future - more in parts of the Birmingham than anywhere else in the country. They’ll be looking to the next Government for a solution - and they deserve to get one. Whoever our next Prime Minister is, and whoever is elected in across the West Midlands, their first thought must be for the millions of people who have been left in such dire financial straits that they’re losing sleep, worrying about how they’re going to feed their kids or keep the roof over their heads.

“On July 5, every new MP should make their first priority tackling this cost of living crisis, making real change, so that we can all stop worrying about getting by, and get back to being able to live a little.”