PEOPLE living in a picturesque Suffolk village have hit back at claims by a disgruntled resident that it was a “sad and miserable” place to live.

Roger Chapman, who has been in Bildeston for less than two years, sent a letter to the village’s online magazine complaining that the village was “extremely sad” place to live compared to places like Scotland and the north east where he had previously lived.

Mr Chapman, who is Suffolk-born, used the pages of the Bildeston Bugle to air his grievances about the village, claiming that no-one smiles or stops to pass the time of day.

He said: ”I was shocked at the extreme degree of community introversion in Bildeston - along with the general lack of smiles to be seen when going about daily business.” And he also takes a swipe at nearby Hadleigh claiming it is “equally dire”.

But yesterday locals among the 1,000 population rallied to the defence of Bildeston.

Tricia Baldwin, part of the Bugle’s editorial team, said: “It’s really sad Mr Chapman feels like that - it is not at all a true picture of the village.

“His remarks have shocked and upset a lot of people – we were at a golden wedding party at the weekend where half the guests had moved to the village in the last ten years and his unkind comments were even mentioned in the speeches.

“We moved here 12 years ago from Hemel Hempstead and found it to be a really friendly vibrant community. Just in our road we have street parties and organise boat trips – and we all rally round in a crisis.”

Nick English, who is organising next month’s music festival in Bildeston, said: “It’s a thriving friendly little place with a school, pubs and a church. It’s a terrific place to live and unfair of him to be so critical.”