MIRFIELD folk are angry after the area won the dubious honour of being named among the UK's 50 "crap towns".

It comes in at 28 after The Idler magazine invited its readers to nominate the worst place to live in Britain.

The results have been published in a guide described by its authors as a Domesday Book of Misery.

Drab pictures illustrate the entries.

The section on Mirfield begins by condemning the state of the River Calder flowing through the town.

The guide continues: "There is also the canal which flows adjacent to the river and the insalubrious wasteland therein.

"Abandoned cotton mills and the sewage works, which burned for five months a few years ago while the council tried to work out how to release the growing methane pressure, add to the general doom and gloom of the area.

"The only interesting thing is the view from the top of the town. It is, however, a view of Huddersfield, with the old ICI factory fumes blocking out the Pennines in the background."

The description has sparked anger among residents and people connected with the town.

TV weathergirl Debbie Lindley, who was born in Mirfield, said: "It's a bit harsh. In fact, it's outrageous. I've got very fond memories of growing up in Mirfield. I don't agree with the book at all."

And Brian Gedge, who moved to the town from the Cotswolds four years ago, said: "I'm perfectly happy here. It's a pleasant place and transport is good."

Mirfield Tory councillor Martyn Bolt said the book went too far. But he added: "The town has been neglected by Kirklees, because it's sandwiched between Huddersfield and Dewsbury."

The list is topped by Hull and also features Liverpool (No 6) and London (No 17).

A spokesman for the guide said: "Britain isn't just the place of warm beer, cosy B&Bs and amiable old buffers some travel books would have us believe.

"Britain can be every bit as challenging as the places that gap-year students and `serious' travellers usually go for their poverty and misery kick."

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