Clacton's trade chief has demanded an apology after the town was sharply criticised for having too many charity shops and empty shop windows.

Pierre Oxley, chairman of Clacton Chamber of Commerce, hit back after Dave Arnott, his counterpart in Witham, laid into the resort at a public meeting.

Mr Arnott, who chairs Witham Chamber of Commerce, said Witham had too many vacant shops and was in danger of becoming “like Clacton”.

He said: “It feels like you are walking on Clacton seafront at the moment. It’s so depressing.

“If it’s not a charity shop it’s an empty window.”

In response, Mr Oxley said: “People like that just annoy me. He should just refrain from those comments, and I would ask him to issue a formal apology."