Health Secretary John Reid is visiting Birmingham today to back calls for tougher action against teen gangs.

He is due to be in Yardley where Labour's General Election candidate is calling for a series of underpasses beneath Coventry Road to be bricked up.

Jayne Innes, who is fighting to succeed MP Estelle Morris in the seat, says the subways have become a haven for graffiti artists and vandals.

Dr Reid's visit reflects the scale of the challenge facing Labour in Yardley, which the Liberal Democrats hope to win on May 5.

John Hemming, the Lib Dem deputy leader of the council, came close to winning the seat in 2001 and is standing again.

Labour's campaign is focusing on anti-social behaviour.

As well as replacing underpasses with traffic crossings, Ms Innes is calling for the police to have the power to impose a curfew on teenagers.