The Prime Minister is being urged to consider “removing Sandwell off the national map” by a petition which wants to the see the borough taken over by Birmingham.

Support for the petition, which has been lodged on the number10.gov.uk website, is so far limited with just four signatures.

The petition, which launches a blistering attack on Sandwell’s public services, closes on August 11.

Started by Chris Reilly, it reads: “The Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell should become part of the City of Birmingham and the two local authorities should be merged.

“Sandwell’s public services are poor and its schools underperform.

“Sandwell’s public spaces are unkept (sic), its main roads littered and dirty and its leisure facilities underfunded.

“Public money is wasted on schemes such as The Public and other redevelopment schemes are expensive and painfully slow. Birmingham, by contrast is a popular, well run historical city which needs expansion to ensure it can compete on a global scale.

“If Sandwell is removed from the national map, the six towns which make up the borough can retrieve their strong local identities and be part of a larger, more forward thinking city.”

Sandwell Council leader Councillor Bill Thomas said there was no question of the borough being absorbed by Birmingham.

He said: “Sandwell has a population of not far off 300,000 and has a clear Black Country identity.

“A population of that size makes us bigger than many other cities.

“I refute the suggestion that Birmingham performs better than Sandwell as Birmingham recently dropped to a two-star rating from the Audit Commission and has been criticised for its children’s services and housing. Sandwell has a four-star benefits service and is improving significantly. We do of course recognise there is still a way to go.”