A once-popular tourist destination in the UK has been labelled one of its worst for anti-social behaviour. Clacton-on-Sea in Essex has one of the worst rates of incidents per resident, with 68 incidents for every 1,000 compared with the UK’s average of 17.

Thousands of visitors used to flock to the seaside town every summer from London. 

But now the town is in disrepair.

Canisters of nitrous oxide, also known as hippy crack, can be found littered along the seafront.

Meanwhile, graffiti covers empty shops, claims the Sun.

Residents told the outlet the town centre is left with a sense of foreboding as menacing gangs roam the streets, leading residents feeling threatened.

Vanessa Bedford, 36, claimed her son was attacked during his shift at a fast food chain.

She said: “When my son worked in McDonald’s he got thrown down the stairs because he refused to give some kids free ketchup.

“He was regularly threatened and once got beaten up outside by a group of teenagers.”

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She said she only comes into the town to do her shopping.

“I’ve been threatened with a knife for telling a group of kids to stop harassing an old lady,” she added.

“They claimed they’d get me back. It’s just a horrible atmosphere. I spend as little time as possible in the town.”

Kebab shop worker Alex Evans, 37, said she doesn’t walk home alone when her shift finishes at 9pm as she doesn’t feel safe, adding: “We have a lot of fights around here on the weekends.

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“I’ve lived here for four years and it’s steadily got worse and worse.

“Police do turn up if we call them when things kick off but I wish they’d have a bigger presence before things get violent.”

Last year 646 arson attacks, 296 shoplifting incidents and 3,221 violent and sexual offences were reported, according to Crime Rate UK.

Meanwhile, a beautiful seaside town in Cornwall was labelled the county’s most dangerous, despite being less than 10 miles from the safest.

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