Prime Minister David Cameron wrote a letter for readers of a regional daily newspaper ahead of a visit to the area.

He penned the open letter for the Birmingham Mail, which was published before he went to the city this week for a question and answer session with readers of the paper and other residents.

The letter set out his vision for the West Midlands, praising its ‘immense industrial history’.

And readers were invited by the newspaper to submit their questions for Mr Cameron ahead of the PM Direct debate in Birmingham.

In the letter, the Prime Minister said: “My message is clear: industrial and business success in Birmingham is not the stuff of museums.

“This city can have a future every bit as prosperous as its past – but to make that happen we have to have a new and bold approach to our economy.

“Over the past decade so much of our country’s growth, wealth and prosperity was concentrated in one part of the country.

“Between 1999 and 2008 the West Midlands was the only UK region that saw a contraction in private sector jobs – and in Birmingham today the percentage of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance is almost double the national average.

“I passionately believe it doesn’t have to be like this.”

During his time in Birmingham, Mr Cameron answered a wide range of questions from residents on topics including council housing reform, the government’s spending review, education and immigration.