A STOCKTON musician, angered at the town being featured in the controversial Channel 4 series Benefits Street, has taken to busking outside the programme's headquarters.

Mike McGrother travelled to London to deliver a Valentine's card to Love Productions, makers of the series.

Mr McGrother, a member of the popular band The Wildcars of Kilkenny and a driving force in the 'Positively Stockton' campaign, presented the card and some flowers to Love Productions' creative director Kieran Smith.

The hit TV show, which has been filmed on Kingston Road on Stockton's Tilery Estate, sparked fears it will damage the town's image and make it harder to attract new investment.

Mr McGrother said: “The whole nature of our response to Love Productions is that we have made a decision to mirror what they do, but as a 'lovelier' production.

“They chose to come to our hometown uninvited and work in a way that they choose.

“We are simply starting our response by visiting them uninvited and reminding them, Valentine’s style, that things can be done in a 'lovelier' way – and that will continue to underpin our planned response.”

Attention will soon shift to the campaign’s centrepiece event, “The Loudest Whisper”, which will see a whispered message passed around the entire borough of Stockton on Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14. The initiative, which will raise money for Comic Relief, will see a message passed from person to person, making use of human chains as well as all kinds of transport from jet-skis and rowing boats to buses and bikes.

Mr McGrother said: “There's an abundance of community pride in Stockton, it's just not our style to go shouting it from the rooftops.

"But if we're faced with a series that seeks to paint us in an unfair light on national television, we shouldn't take that lying down.

“Through the Loudest Whisper event and all the other parts of the Positively Stockton campaign, we can dispel the myths that will inevitably be trotted out using the sense of humour, community spirit and understated manner people in our borough are renowned for."

A Channel 4 spokesperson said: "A range of residents and members of the local community have wanted to share their stories with us.

"The area has a great sense of community and this is a typical example of the personality and spirit of Stockton."

To find out more about the Positively Stockton-on-Tees campaign visit www.positivelystocktonontees.co.uk