The Brexit referendum in 2016 saw voters divided on whether or not to depart the EU – and a visit to Hanley a decade on found polling views split once again between Leave and Remain.

There was one uniting factor though amongst the shoppers and traders in the city centre however – a feeling that the country had not seen an improvement in the 10 years since 52% of referendum voters put their mark in the Leave box.

There have certainly been changes in Hanley since June 2016.

Retail giants such as M&S and Debenhams have departed their former city centre stores, and some buildings have disappeared altogether, such as the old East-West Precinct.

Ambitious plans are in place to redevelop the former shopping area and other nearby sites, as part of the Etruscan Square project. But the new developments are still yet to appear – and for Hanley shoppers and traders, a number of the hoped-for benefits of Brexit have not come to fruition either.

They spoke of changes to travel rules, such as extra checks at airports, as well as the continuing issue of immigration. The rising cost of goods has also affected many people.

Carol Bailey highlighted the impact of Brexit on families travelling abroad for holidays. She said: "I don't go abroad now, but my family go.

"I voted to leave, but I think we should go back in. I don't think it has worked and prices have gone up."

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Pat Chilton said: "I voted for it and it should be better. I don't think they had a comprehensive plan for when it took place and everything has gone up."

Friends Andrew and Hayley, who described themselves as patriots, said they would vote for Brexit if there was a second referendum. Hayley did not take part in the 2016 referendum, but Andrew voted Leave.

He said: "We haven't taken advantage of it. Everything has gone wrong because of the useless Tories.

"All the potential we had has gone pear-shaped. You couldn't make it up."

Hayley said: "I'm not happy with what's going on in this country – our country is falling apart. People are coming in illegally and Keir Starmer needs to stop this."

Callum Richards was still at school when the Brexit referendum took place in 2016. "I would vote to remain", he said.

"I don't think Brexit really worked. Stoke-on-Trent is going down the toilet."

Mitch Hughes, who runs Vellichor Books in Piccadilly, voted Remain a decade ago. "I knew what I was getting with Remain, I didn't know what I was getting with Leave", he said.

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"If they had had a plan maybe, but I don't think it has helped at all. Immigration is a big issue now because we are not in the EU

"It was a protest vote and I think a lot of people who voted to leave regretted it. I don't think it has done anything massive for the economy – in fact I think it made it worse.

"Unfortunately it emboldened racists. I remember the day it went through, working in Hanley, I was hearing people shouting 'send them back."

David Shingler from Music Mania across the arcade also voted Remain. He said: "Things have changed in the past 10 years – whether it's down to Brexit or not I don't know as we have also had the pandemic."

For Eddie Skelson, who runs The Hobby Wizards market stall, voting Leave was a protest. He said he would be prepared to do it again.

"It's the only way we can legally protest", he added. "I thought I'd had it to the back teeth with the Tories – if we have anything that would embarrass Labour I would do it again.

"There is no doubt Brexit has had its issues and flaws, but they have been exacerbated by what the Government has done or not done. On the business side Labour are an economic nightmare."

Rob Ledgar, who runs the Coachmakers Arms opposite the bus station, was unable to take part in the referendum 10 years ago because he was abroad at the time. He said: "I would have voted to stay.

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"Everything that was promised wasn't delivered, such as support for the NHS and lots of other things. International travel has become more restrictive – you can't really go when you want to go.

"I think the people got what the people didn't want."