Channel 4 defends graphic images of life on a Teesside estate

The makers of Channel 4's controversial show Benefits Street, filmed in Stockton-on-Tees, have defended scenes in the new series which openly show drug dealing and drug use.

The show, which was filmed in Kingston Road on the Tilery Estate, follows on from the first series which made stars of some of the inhabitants of Birmingham's James Turner Street - but was described by some critics as "poverty porn".

Among the residents introduced in the first episode is one man who isshown bagging up cannabis, smoking the drug and taking pills before a court appearance.

He told the film crew he has taken "early retirement" from a life of crime after a string of convictions, said he claimed benefits because he suffers from memory loss.

In one scene, he is seen spending his benefits money to top up his tan at alocal sunbed salon and later in the series he is sent back to prison.

Kieran Smith, from Love Productions which makes the show, said it was "not glorying in his behaviour" and was "quite an honest account of what his life is like".

He added that they had followed "strict guidelines" about filming illegal activity.

Here are some of the other Stockton residents featured in the new series:

Julie Young has lived on Kingston Road for more than 20 years. She is described by Channel 4 as the matriarch of the street - the go to person for residents with problems.

Mum of four Sue Griffiths has lived on Kingston Road for more than 30 years and says of life on the street: “Everybody is there for each other. If you said to me there’s a million pounds you wouldn’t move me.”

Dot Taylor lives at the end of Kingston Road with her partner Kev. She has a large extended family consisting of her children, grandchildren, siblings and their children, all of whom live on the estate.

Lee Nutley had been claiming Job Seekers Allowance for the past year, living on £45 a week, after being laid off by the construction company he worked for. He has been “sanctioned” for missing an appointment, something he denies, and his benefits have been cut.

The first series of the show attracted hundreds of complaints to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom though Channel 4 was cleared of breaching any rules.