Crunch struggle on Halfpenny Lane

Mother-of-four Denise Gay works split shifts at the community centre

Few have escaped the bite of the credit crunch and people living on one street in West Yorkshire have given a snapshot of the ripple effect of the economic squeeze.

Halfpenny Lane in Pontefract is a typical bustling street dotted with houses, small businesses, pubs and schools.

Behind the closed doors, the region's economic temperature is reflected in the day-to-day life of residents.

Nigel Rose has had first-hand experience of the financial and emotional cost of a struggling economy.

Determined to make a future for his family, the 41-year-old bought the lease on The New Cross Keys Inn pub two years ago. But business is no longer booming and he has had to close.

Facing bankruptcy

"This was my business, it was my home, it was my life and now it's finished," he said.

I've had times I've wanted to do myself in, but it's my family which have pulled me through it Nigel Rose

"We tried to keep the place open with discos and karaoke nights but people didn't bother coming in and it just started dwindling away."

Mr Rose has re-mortgaged his home and invested more than £40,000 in trying to keep the business afloat but he could now lose his property and faces bankruptcy.

He said: "I've had times I've wanted to do myself in, but it's my family which have pulled me through it."

As a single mother-of-four, Denise Gay juggles her daily split shifts as a cleaner at the local community centre with looking after her sons.

Life is not easy and the economic squeeze has made things worse.

"I'm dreading Christmas. Bills have to be paid - I pay my gas and electric monthly but they never seem to go down, they seem to go up," she said.

Halfpenny Lane Working Men's Club once entertained sizeable crowds

"It's getting harder now and it's going to be a tough struggle."

At Halfpenny Lane's working men's club, committee member Tony Goodwin is trying hard to turn around the plummeting profits.

The club has enjoyed a popular past but with takings now lower than ever the committee has started renting rooms out to local dance classes.

New entertainment acts have been signed up but Mr Goodwin fears the squeeze may have hit too hard.

He said: "You do come in and it's soul destroying. You come in and you think where are they all, what's going on?

"The future I don't know. I hope it has got a future but in my own heart I can't see it having a future if it keeps on as it is."