Les and Elizabeth Rookes don't have to plough through endless holiday guides to find their dream destination.

For them there's only one choice. The Cambridge couple have visited Clacton every year for more than 50 years and would not go anywhere else.

Mr Rookes, 70, said he and his wife first came to the town when he was 17 and has been coming ever since.

He said: "There's nice fresh air, nice friendly people and there's the cleanliness and everything else. If people don't come to Clacton then they don't know."

The couple tried Devon once but felt the journey was too far and so returned to their favourite resort. The couple spend two to three weeks each year in the seaside town and one of their regular trips is to see the lifeboat coxswain.

Mr Rookes said his father, who was 93 years old when he died, also enjoyed the town. Clacton offers seven miles of soft golden sand.

The town receives less rainfall and more sunshine than many rival resorts and nearby St Osyth is the driest place in England.

The value of Tendring's tourism is put at £80 million per year.

Tendring's population increases from about 120,000 to 260,000 during the peak summer months. Tourism supports 3,100 full time jobs.

Clacton fans - Les and Elizabeth Rookes

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