The UK seaside town where locals call each other for help rather than the police

A small UK seaside town which is often dubbed as the "most neglected" has left a social media influencer fall in love with it as he praised its community for its "warmth". An American YouTuber, Drew Binsky, who has been to 197 countries, spent a day in Essex's most maligned seaside town and was left surprisingly smitten.

The town located about 2 miles west of Clacton-on-Sea and roughly 60 miles from London was originally developed in the 1930s as a holiday resort for working-class Londoners, it was built on former salt marshes and farmland. However, it has been facing challenges like unemployment, poor housing conditions, and flood risks.

Due to its reputation, Mr Binsky was hoping to find run down homes and streets in the area, however, he was left fascinated by the residents.

One told him: "We don't phone the police. We phone each other."

Before heading to the town, the YouTuber said: "I am heading there alone to witness life in crumbling homes and abandoned streets."

He went to the beach and said: "I'm excited to check out the beach. Even in the off-season, there's something raw and real about an empty shoreline. Seeing it like this gives me a different perspective on Jaywick. One that's eerie, but also kind of special."

Mr Binsky was quick enough to change his opinion about the town as he began to explore it more. He said: "I am already starting to get a better feel for Jaywick. Clearly you never know who you're going to meet around here. And it's not as quiet as I first thought."

He took the first break at Angie's Breakfast and Burger Shack, where he was struck by the warmth of the community.

He said: "Angie offers everyone who drives up a cuppa tea," he noted, immediately experiencing the hospitality that would define his visit. As he began talking to the residents, one who told him: "Jaywick gets a bad rep but the community, it's the best you'll see in the world. In Jaywick, we cherish the uniqueness of each individual person."

Danny Sloggett, who has been living in the area for all his life told Mr Binsky: "When we have problems in Jaywick, we don't phone the police. We phone each other and things are taken care of. I've lived in Jaywick since the 80s. I think people say it's deprived. I think it's cheaper. It's happier.

"They say Jaywick's very deprived, but I think it's very good because the houses are cheap. There's people in London paying half a million pounds for a house - in Jaywick, we pay £50,000."

Sharing the final verdict about the town, the YouTuber said: "After spending time here, I see there's more to the story. Jaywick is full of hidden quirks and surprises. It might be England's most neglected town, but to be honest, I kind of love it."