For the latest Rochdale news sign up to the MyRochdale newsletter here It's a wet Wednesday afternoon. The steel shuttered retail units and an imposing derelict mill paint a vivid picture of a town north of Manchester in need of a lift.
But, between the showers, the sunlight dazzles on the wet streets, and there is hope and joy in the eyes of local people slowly re-awakening from a psychologically punishing lockdown.
We're in Middleton - the community that re-elected Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham wants to connect to the rest of the city region via Metrolink.
Here, we ask shoppers if they agree with Mr Burnham's analysis that Middleton is a victim of a 'north-south divide' within the city region.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk