Residents in a seaside town ranked amongst Britain's worst have fought back against the critics.

They have championed their home, branding it a "traditional" coastal resort boasting a stunning beach and welcoming locals.

Fleetwood, in Lancashire, was recently branded the fifth worst seaside destination in the country by Which?

It secured an overall rating of 46%, which factored in its beach, seafront, scenery, food and drink options, accommodation, tourist attractions and value for money.

However, locals in the town, situated seven miles north of Blackpool, insist the rankings are harsh and unwarranted.

"Unfortunately, we get a lot of bad press," Debbie Gray, the owner of Lords Deli, on Lord Street, tells the Daily Express.

"We get called 'deprived' and 'degenerate' and all sorts of things. It's a bit sad as people in Fleetwood are lovely and friendly."

The 62 year old has been running the deli for 19 years, and has witnessed the halt of the town's heritage tram service, two recessions and the Covid-19 pandemic during that period.

"We've managed to muster through," she says.

"We're still here as we pride ourselves on good and friendly service. We like to know our customers.

"If we didn't have the local people, we wouldn't be here. We've been very well supported by the local people over the years. We have a very loyal customer base."

Mrs Gray says Fleetwood has plenty to be proud of. As well as traditional seaside attractions, the town boasts a market, a thriving private school and a highly rated golf course.

"We've got a great market, a good private school, a golf course, a boating lake and a beautiful promenade," she says. "There's amusements, kids can do crabbing, there's an estuary walk. It's a lovely, lovely town for families to visit."

Nevertheless, she attributes the town's difficulties to outsiders arriving from different areas who show little "respect" for Fleetwood and its residents.

Mrs Gray explains: "We've got a lot of multiple occupancy housing, with people coming from Manchester and Liverpool because we've got the space.

"But they've got no respect for the town, no respect for the people and that's why we get a bad name. But Fleetwood itself is a lovely and nice place to live and visit."

Further along Lord Street stands the Amore Cafe, a family-operated Italian establishment that enjoys particular popularity amongst residents.

It's managed by Eduardo and Aileen Albero who take pride in their commitment to quality local ingredients.

"We cook everything fresh and have special boards every week," Mrs Albero, 66, says. "The people here are so supportive. Everyone is so friendly and lovely around Fleetwood."

Similar to Mrs Gray at Lords Deli, Mrs Albero considers the negative coverage to be unjust.

"We've got a great market here with coaches of people coming from all over.

"The promenade is lovely too. I think the bad press is unjustified, we don't get any trouble here."

She explains that the local enterprises in Fleetwood support one another to thrive.

They frequently provide suggestions to visitors who are unfamiliar with the locale.

Fleetwood Market takes place on Adelaide Street every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

It features over 250 stalls, offering everything from local produce, clothing and homeware to gifts and collectables.

Like other coastal towns, Fleetwood boasts an esplanade with magnificent views of the shoreline.

Situated on The Esplanade, across from the 28-metre-high sandstone Pharos Lighthouse, is Mary, Tom and Friends.

The establishment sells Fleetwood-themed gifts and trinkets.

It began as a stall on the local market in 2014 before establishing itself on The Esplanade in 2019.

"There's so much more to do in Fleetwood than people think," the owner Katherine Platt says.

"We've got a lovely promenade to walk along, a boating lake, a new pitch n' putt course. We're also the only town in the UK to have three lighthouses - two that are working and one that isn't."

Mrs Platt also praises the local residents who back the enterprises in the town.

She maintains you "can't find nicer people" than those in Fleetwood.

"They support us so much. You can't find nicer people than the locals in Fleetwood," Mrs Platt explains.

"We came here from Yorkshire and were accepted straight away.

"It's just a really nice seaside town. We all help each other and there's a real community. The market here is lovely but doesn't get the love it deserves."

Adjacent to Mary, Tom and Friends on The Esplanade sits The Ferry Cafe which has been trading for approximately 70 years.

The establishment serves classic fish and chips alongside ice creams.

According to proprietor Steve Chandler, the cafe has evolved into a "hub" within the town in recent years.

It serves as a favoured destination for residents seeking a hot beverage or meal whilst mingling with fellow community members.

"We've got amazing views of the sea here," the 56 year old says.

"Fleetwood is a pretty quiet and nice town. Blackpool get all the drunks but I think it's much nicer here.

"The cafe is a bit of a hub in the town. We get a lot of locals pop in every day for a drink or some food. The same people come every day. They might just come in for a cup of tea but they like the community. Then the tourists are just extras for us."

He also considers the recent Which?

rankings to be unjust towards Fleetwood.

Whilst acknowledging certain areas of the town appear "run-down", he maintains that the "majority of it is nice".

"We keep going and that's all we can do. We will keep providing a place for the locals to come and enjoy."

The Fleetwood Model Yacht and Power Boat Club enjoys recognition throughout the town for various pursuits including racing and recreational sailing.

Positioned along the waterfront, it draws visitors eager to savour the expansive maritime vistas.

The lake proves equally popular for crabbing, drawing young families year-round.

Lynn Park, 64, was at the lake with her grandson, Layson, and his friend, Coby. "It's just so peaceful here. There's lots of nice walks and obviously the great beach," Mrs Parks says.

"It's great for the kids and it's also really clean. The beach is gorgeous and great for picking shells - it's a proper seaside town.

"It's an old seaside town and it's stayed like that. It's not commercialised and it's exactly what I remember as a kid. There's loads of parks for the children too. They can ride bikes up and down the coast too. It's great. Everyone goes to Blackpool but it always gets so busy. It's so much quieter here which we love."

Nevertheless, similar to other communities across the UK, Fleetwood has endured rising overheads and declining visitor numbers in recent times.

Back at Lords Deli, Mrs Gray reveals she has been compelled to increase her charges to remain viable.

"There is a lack of footfall in the town as people don't have a reason to come in," she explains. "We're on delivery services now because that's what people want.

"It's getting harder and harder with prices. Obviously we've been hit by the National Insurance rises so have had to put our prices up a bit. Everything else has gone up so unfortunately we had to do it to survive."

Meanwhile, Mrs Platt concurs: "Tourism is hit and miss here really. It can be really busy but we also sometimes struggle for footfall.

"I think in recent times people haven't had as much money to spend which is an issue. But when they do visit they do tend to spend."