FRINTONIANS have defended their town ahead of a BBC documentary which depicts it as a town that doesn't like change.

The Curious World of Frinton-on-Sea, which will be screened on BBC2 on Wednesday at 9.50pm, says residents have become as beached in their own still histories as everything around them.

The documentary, part of film-maker Marc Isaacs' Wonderland series, focuses on the town's campaign to save its iconic railway gates from being replaced with an automatic level crossing.

A preview of the programme describes it as a chance to defend the strange world they inhabit from the onslaught of the 21st century.

Brian McLellan, chairman of Frinton Residents' Association, is featured as one of the stalwarts of the gates campaign.

He described it as a "cruel portrayal" of his town.

"It traduces Frinton as a town," he said.

"The only people shown were over the age of 65.

"There were no children at all, which is ridiculous as there are two primary schools within the gates."

He added: "The programme bore no relation to what Frinton actually is.

A BBC spokeswoman said the film is not intended to be representative of the entire town but a subjective look at the lives of a small selection of people.

Read more on this story in tomorrow's Gazette.