THE former Deputy Prime Minister visited a deprived seaside town to film a television programme.

John Prescott was in Jaywick to film for a show, thought to be about the north/south divide.

Residents in Alvis Avenue, Jaywick, said “Prezza” walked along the road with a camera crew talking to householders.

David Brookes, 39, who lives in nearby Lincoln Avenue, was with friends on Alvis Avenue when Mr Prescott approached them.

He said: “My opinion of politicians isn’t that good, but he was friendly. We were chatting for about 20 minutes.

“He was asking what we thought about it down here and did we think we were better off here than in the north and general stuff.

“If he is taking an interest it could help things change for the better.”

Keith Davis, who lives on Alvis Avenue, said he had heard Jack Straw was in town, but after spotting Mr Prescott striding down the road, he instantly recognised him.

He said: “He was a very nice gentleman, he was down to earth.

“Politicians can be a bit snobby but he was very polite.

“We had a really good chat. I think he was very impressed by the way that people spoke to him. We aired our views.”

Bill Thorpe-Rowe, who helped the BBC on its research before Mr Prescott’s visit, had a whole hour discussing the area with the former deputy PM.

The 43-year-old said: “He just had so much time to talk to you. Even when the cameras stopped rolling he was still chatting and playing with the kids.

“He is just interested in people.I think Jaywick is an up-and-coming area, and it is now getting people like that to come and see what they can do with it.”

The TV show follows a previous series in which Mr Prescott explored the class system.

A spokesman for Tiger Aspect production company, which is making the programme, said: “It is following on from where we left off the last series.

“It is the same sort of thing, but it is not just on class this time. It is Prescott exploring the UK again.”

The programme will be aired on BBC2 just before Christmas.