TENDRING’S regeneration boss has hit back at a report that branded the district one of the least trendy places in the country .

The report based its findings on factors including how many people move to the area, the number of the people aged from 20 to 35, the amount of new start-up companies , businesses working in the arts and top-rated restaurants .

Tendring was named as the second least trendy place in the UK, narrowly missing out to remote Barrow-in-Furness.

But Tendring Council regeneration boss and actor Giles Watling defended Tendring as “the Florida of England”.

He said: “We have 36 miles of astounding coastlines with gorgeous beaches. I think we have lots of young people moving here.

“In the arts, we have a lot of great productions on their way to stages across Tendring.

"The arts movement in this area is alive and well.”

Tendring scored well below average in most areas analysed in the report.

But the district was found to be just above average for the number of businesses involved in the arts.

James Ennifer, of Sheen’s estate agent in Clacton, said the data did not give a true reflection of the area in terms of the number of people moving to the district.

“At the moment, we are finding there are not enough properties for the demand we are receiving,” he said.

“It is not just people moving from the London area to Tendring, but also other parts of Essex, too.”

Sue Bunting, marketing manager for the Milsoms hotels group, which runs the Pier Hotel in Harwich, said Tendring was a trendy place .

“Harwich in particular is a great place to visit - it has lots of things to do and see,” she said.

“We have currently reinvested in the Ha’penny Pier and it is due to reopen in a few weeks, which will be another asset to Harwich.”

Hollywood star Clive Owen (above) lives in Wrabness and is patron of Harwich’s Electric Palace cinema, adding to the area’s trendy credentials.

The report named Manchester as the trendiest place to live in the UK.