IF a survey were commissioned to ask people what areas of the country they believed were the most deprived, what do you think the answers would be?

Tower Hamlets, in London, maybe? Newtown, in Birmingham? St Paul's, in Bristol? Manchester's Moss Side?

Few, we would suggest, would include Warndon in the Faithful City.

However, the part of Warndon that lies to the east of Cranham Drive has been included near the top of just such a list.

The English Indices of Deprivation 2004 report puts that area of Worcester within its top four per cent.

The county as a whole, it must be said, is nestled firmly down the list, comfortably within the top third of better-off counties.

Although the report was compiled using statistical analysis and such mysteries as "exponential transformation", it cannot be denied that it highlights the need for some sort of collective action.

Warndon's failure to meet acceptable standards in areas such as employment, living environment, housing and health, means something must surely be done.

By whom? Well, by all the agencies that are perceived to be failing the area's residents.

The city and county councils, central and regional government, and other agencies need to work together to address these problem areas.

But, most of all, the people that live in that part of the city must demonstrate that they are able to help themselves.

It is only through collective community action that Warndon can enjoy the sort of chance for prosperity it deserves.