Amid slum terraces of Manchester is one boy's year of adventure, abuse, crippling poverty, and an encounter with The Moors Murderers.

A raw and often funny 12-month snapshot of seven-year-old Tommy's brutal young life. Moving us through his daily struggle with poverty and neglect in 1960s Manchester like it's the most natural thing in the world, Tommy lives at the heart of a large Irish family in derelict Hulme, ruled by an abusive and alcoholic father and a drunk, negligent mother.

Alongside his siblings he begs for - or steals - a few pennies to bring home to his parents and avoid a belting, while looking for something to eat and a little adventure along the way. With an unlikely sense of fun and a huge dose of good humor, Tommy introduces us to his foul-mouthed and chaotic family members. Deeply flawed they may all be, but amongst the violence, grinding poverty, and distinct lack of hygiene and morality lies a strong sense of loyalty and, above all, survival.

During this single year - before his family implodes and his world changes forever - young Tommy falls foul of the school welfare officers, the nuns, the police - and Myra Hindley and Ian Brady.

An adventurous, fun, dark and moving story of the only life young Tommy knew.