Seaside resorts are set to get a welcome shot in the arm from the Government.

And the move to build a comprehensive strategy to assist them in the future has been welcomed by Harwich MP Ivan Henderson.

Chris Smith, Secretary of State for Heritage and Culture, made the announcement during a parliamentary debate on tourism.

He assured MPs his department would be seeking a strategy to support all traditional seaside resorts in the country.

"As a member of the parliamentary seaside group I have been heavily involved in promoting the need for assistance for our Tendring resorts such as Clacton, Frinton, Walton and Dovercourt," he said.

Mr Henderson said low paid seasonal work produces problems which are common to most seaside resorts and he had been campaigning with fellow members of the group to come up with some of the answers to them.

He added: "Chris Smith's statement confirms the Government is listening to us and I am sure our local resorts will benefit as a result."

Terry McKean, chairman of Tendring's hotel and guest house association, said he was pleased to hear the minister's words but was more cautious and waiting to see what the strategy entailed before getting too excited.

"Of course, we welcome any help that comes our way from this or any other government," he said.

"However, at the moment they are just words and we wait to see what materialises from them."

Mr McKean said one of the biggest problems faced in Clacton at the moment was the loss of hotels, leaving them with a shortage of beds to meet demand last season.

"We fear there are other hotels that may well disappear over to other uses than taking in holidaymakers in the near future and once gone they will never be replaced."

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