A DORSET town has made the shortlist in a poll of the ‘most depressing towns in Britain’.

The poll, conducted by ilivehere.co.uk, seeks to find a place “where you just exist rather than live” – and Poole is among the finalists.

Also in Dorset, Lyme Regis makes the list, while Somerset is represented by Yeovil.

Elsewhere, the site features scathing town reviews; including one calling Sherborne “deranged”, and another who said, in Weymouth, “every day is like a Sunday”.

But a spokesperson for Visit Somerset defended Yeovil.

“Situated in the heart of Somerset and surrounded by outstanding countryside and coastline, Yeovil is a vibrant market town currently undergoing significant transformation,” they said.

“Well connected by the A30 and A37, and serviced by two rail stations and two international airports within an hour’s drive of Bristol and Exeter, Yeovil is much bigger and more bustling than it might first appear.

“With entertainment venues, a country park, its own football club, a host of leisure, retail and sports facilities as well as home to British Helicopters, the current regeneration of the town centre, the Yeovil Refresh, is an exciting and ambitious development for residents, businesses and visitors alike.”

Photo: Google.

READ MORE: A35 in Poole closed due to “unsafe structure” hanging from scaffold. 

And Cllr Ros Wyke – lead member for economic development, planning and assets at Somerset Council – said: “Yeovil is rich in heritage, with an active economy known for its exceptional glove-making and today, as the home of British Helicopter manufacturer, Leonardo Helicopters.

“Far from being ‘depressing’, the town is well on its way to becoming a thriving commercial, tourist and residential centre.

“Enhancements to the town’s public realm, the communal spaces and streets where people congregate and move, its transport links into the town centre and other major development sites, are seeing sustainable investment in Yeovil and its future for the enjoyment and benefit of all.”

For more information about Yeovil and things to do, head to www.visitsomerset.co.uk and to vote for your “most depressing town”, visit www.ilivehere.co.uk.