The once 'thriving' town that turned Tory for the first time but where people now want 'change'

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

"It breaks my heart," says Linda Collier, casting a despondent look down Leigh's deserted high street. It's just gone 3pm on a Wednesday and Linda and her husband, Patrick, are closing up for the day.

Their café, The Coffee Bar, has been in Linda's family since 1961 and has hosted generations of Leythers. She grew up in the flat above the café, in Bradshawgate, and has spent much of her life there. READ MORE: The Greater Manchester towns where even Tory voters think they'll lose "In the past 63 years, I don't think there have been many days when I've not been on this street," she explained. "I grew up here, I played out here. "My first job was in here, emptying ashtrays when I was two." Over the last half a century, Linda has witnessed plenty of change in Leigh town centre.

But over the last ten years, she says the town has changed for the worse. Drugs and antisocial behaviour are 'rife', she claims, while shoplifting is becoming an increasing problem. "This used to be a thriving town but the past 10 years, it's rife with drugs," she said. "It's deteriorating. "This town is crawling with drug addicts and dealers.

People are afraid to go out in the evening. "We need some law and order, we really do. Everybody in Leigh agrees that we need more police." After the upcoming general election, Linda is hoping something will finally change.