As the cost of living soars and inflation continues to spiral, a charity has warned that three northern towns have been hit harder than most.
Research by the Centre for Cities says that Burnley, Blackpool and Blackburn are three of the worst affected towns in England – and all are within the same Lancashire corridor.
Local people claim that this part of the country has been “forgotten”, with government promises of “levelling up” failing to deliver.
The Independent spoke to businesses, residents and local politicians as they shared the struggles they face.
“It’s not something I wanted to do,” cake shop owner Hannah Greenwood says. “I never wanted to be unaffordable. But I have to match my cost.”
The 27-year-old put off raising prices as long as she could, even as the cost of ingredients soared, and she denied herself a paycheck for months.
Eventually, something had to give. Her cheapest bespoke cake used to be £40 – now it’s £70.
“We are trying to push through it, but I can’t really see a light at the end of the tunnel.”
The business owner, like others across the country, has been hit by the rocketing cost of living. Inflation is once again at its highest rate in four decades in England, hitting 11.1 per cent last month.
But the situation varies across the country, according to the Centre for Cities, with Burnley, Blackburn and Blackpool some of the hardest hit towns.
The think tank tracks inflation for every large town and city in the UK, estimated using data on spending patterns and wages.

Independent