Angry Braintree retailers have shared their love of the town after receiving negative publicity in a recent study.

Independent traders are mystified by the report and doubt its accuracy, after the town came under fire in a retail study commissioned by Chelmsford City Council.

The study claimed that Braintree’s share of mid Essex shoppers in both convenience and comparison goods had dropped from 11.3 per cent in 2005 to 5.1 per cent in 2014.

However, a spokesman said claims elsewhere that the study revealed shoppers had migrated to retail outlets at Lakeside, Bluewater and Chelmsford city centre, were untrue.

See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for more.