PEOPLE living in parts of the region might suffer from a poor sex drive or be brain dead, according to researchers of a new book who are investigating the worst places to live in Britain.

PEOPLE living in parts of the region might suffer from a poor sex drive or be brain dead, according to researchers of a new book who are investigating the worst places to live in Britain.

The quarterly magazine "The Idler", aimed at indolent yet creative 20 and 30 somethings, set up a poll to see just how much we love or loathe our British towns and cities.

But rather than ask visitors to its website to vote for the best town in the land, it has asked people to nominate their worst.

Thousands of votes have been submitted and the results will be published in October in the form of a "Doomsday Book of Misery'' entitled "Crap Towns'' listing the 50 worst places to live in Britain.

On the official website Leiston is highlighted for its proximity to the two Sizewell Nuclear power reactors, Aldeburgh is criticised as being stultifying and Felixstowe is for the brain dead.

Felicity Bromage, town mayor at Aldeburgh, said: "I think this is the silly season. People have been coming to Aldeburgh for so many generations and of all ages, so there must be something for everyone.

"There is not a nightclub here, but we have plenty of parties and people enjoy themselves.

"I love it here as much as I did as a teenager, I love my town. We are not brain dead, or half dead either, as Felixstowe has been accused of. Leiston, I hate the power stations, but they did bring work.''

Regarding Felixstowe a spokesman for Suffolk Coastal District Council said: "This has been set up to slate and put down every town across the country. It's a childish little site and the tens of thousands or people who come to the visitor attractions in this district will treat it with the contempt it deserves.''

The website promises to unveil the 50 worst places to live in the UK as nominated by Idler readers, including quotes from "endless boring town councillors''.

The editors of "The Idler'' magazine book, "Crap Towns: The 50 Worst Places To Live In The UK'', seemed confident Hull would make an entry.

Despite the disparaging comments about parts of Suffolk the editors of the book, Sam Jordison and Dan Kieran, said: "We're making our decision on the number of nominations each town gets. So we'll be surprised if it isn't Hull.''

Internet link www.theidler.co.uk

Aldeburgh - nobody, but nobody has ever had good sex in Aldeburgh. You can tell just by walking around this flinty town. Most people here are visiting older relatives, and we know what a suppressant effect that has on even the healthiest drives.

Leiston - what distinguishes Leiston is its proximity to the two Sizewell Nuclear power reactors. Although this wing of Suffolk was patronised by the great media clans Leiston was quite beneath the moneyed bohemian crowd.

Jaywick - can be found nestling at the end of that other jewel of the Essex coastline, St Osyth. More a collection of tin shacks than an actual town, it started life as a series of beach huts cowering under the 20-foot sea wall.

Brentwood - a middle class hive of yobbish Conservatism. It is populated by people who frequent Lakeside as a leisure pursuit, and visited by people who can't afford to do that but wish they could.

Felixstowe - a charming little town on the East Coast of Suffolk. Two types of people live in Felixstowe, the near dead and the brain dead. Venture down to the sea front and marvel at the mass of 'boyed up' Renault 5's and Ford Escorts parked outside the amusement arcades, each one occupied by a group of shaven-haired adolescents listening to a monotonous dance track at full volume.