PEOPLE in Cwm have hit back against a BBC documentary on Blaenau Gwent.

Mark Easton’s portrait of the county for The Editors programme says the Valleys are a “grim emblem of the despair that lack of work can create”.

But first minister Carwyn Jones and the people of Cwm say the claims were an unfair and inaccurate portrayal.

In response, Kathryn Cross, 35, an NHS worker of Cwm, said: “The people of Cwm are not happy. It was very biased and does not reflect the true situation.

“I disagree with what was said, Cwm is not a valley that has been abandoned.

“We are a tight community that has pulled together to evolve in a positive way.”

Despite Mr Easton’s comments that Blaenau Gwent is among the worst for “poverty, sickness, worklessness, hopelessness,” members of the Cwm community are keen to highlight the fact that Cwm has a successful business forum at Cwm Business Park, and Cwm Primary School has 60 per cent of school leavers going on to further education or training.

The village also has the Cwm Community Care volunteer group, an active church community who run schemes such as mother and toddlers’ groups and a ‘soup and a roll’ service.

Janine Price, 37, of Cwm, runs her own transport and career service business, Falcon Distribution.

She said: “I think that the report was very biased because as a community we have not lost our community spirit. I think many of the Valleys may have lost that but that is not the case for Cwm. There are so many positive things in Cwm and not one of those things was touched upon in the report.”

Clint Perry, 56, recently moved back to Cwm to start his own business, the Bailey Arms pub.

The father of five said: “The comments made were a bit derogatory. In the report they went to the wrong places and spoke to the wrong people.

“I think the report just picked the most negative aspects of Cwm. Cwm is actually really friendly and a lovely village.”

Cwm Labour councillor Keren Bender said: “We have been portrayed in a very poor light and we are pursuing a right to reply with the BBC.”