A lifelong Frinton resident has hit back at the portayal of his town.

Pensioner David Ball was provoked to react following the latest feature about the resort in the Daily Telegraph's Saturday travel section which describes it as "the lawns and teacups capital of Britain".

Writer Susan Marling jokes that "such is the width of the time warp it takes a little while to adjust to the fact that Frinton is in colour."

The strapline reads: "The most exiting drama to hit Frinton since the opening of the much-disputed fish and chip shop is the row about the town's first pub."

But Mr Ball said: "I just find it a bit annoying that we are always made out to be living in the past and old-fashioned."

Mr Ball, 74, of Rainham Way, denies the resort is backward in any way.

And just to prove it he reports a siting of a topless bather whilst out for a stroll along "our far-more-loved than press-maligned greensward and pristine near-deserted sandy beaches".

Mr Ball described the article as "predictable and quaintly class-ridden piece about formerly chipless, still doggedly publess, Bondstreeted, crumbling art deco'ed Frinton."

Nigel Richardson, who commissions stories for the Telegraph's travel section said: "We actually had a letter from a reader of the paper of many years who said how delightful it was and how beautifully observed it was.

"The thing is for every Mr Angry there is someone who thinks it is informed, factual and fair," said Mr Richardson.

"I think it was a fair item."

He regretted their writer had left without observing the topless bather, however.

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