FRUSTRATED Jaywick residents say they are tired of being treated "like a carnival sideshow" by the world's media.
The seaside community found itself at the centre of attention during a by-election that saw Nigel Farage secure the Clacton seat, with novelty candidate Count Binface finishing in second place.
Residents and business owners say the coverage and campaigning have not only misrepresented their town but also reduced it to a punchline.
Nikki Barthelemy, who has lived in Brooklands, Jaywick, since 1995, said: "I think it’s a load of s**t.
"We’ve had random people knocking on our door in multicoloured clothes.
"It’s irritating when you tell them not to, then they say ‘vote for me’.
"No, I don’t know you."
She believes the media has given a skewed image of the area.
Ms Barthelemy, 36, said: "They only film the bits that need doing up.
"There’s more to Jaywick than derelict houses and rubbish – most of which is left behind by tourists anyway.
"A lot of people slag Jaywick off like it’s a joke, but it’s a lot more of a community.
Chris Jolley, 46, a writer living in Clacton, said: "Farage doesn’t engage with the town, he just swans in whenever there’s an election.
"I’m frustrated the other major parties treated it like a carnival side show. There are still people who live here."
"I’m just glad it’s over. I’ve had enough of it, really. It’s a farce."
Mr Jolley criticised the way Clacton has been portrayed.
He said: "You can practically see the smirks from the mainstream media.
"The media laps it up because they know it makes good TV.
"Them and social media have done more to divide this country than any politician ever has."
Sophia Wretham, 17, is not old enough to vote, but says the election was “ridiculous”.
She said: “Politicians are looking at what they can get, not what they can do for us.
“People work as hard as they can but are still getting in to ridiculous amounts of debt, just to buy food. You shouldn’t have to go into debt to feed your family."
Clacton fashion designer Karen Dennis, 58, who owns Ketchup Clothes, called the by-election "an absolute farce".
Ms Dennis said: "I’d hoped for much, much more from our MP.
"I don’t know anyone who can just chuck in their job and then ask for it back.
"Farage has been taking money – profiting from his job as a politician.
"That’s not what politics should be about. He presents himself as a man of the people, but he’s not."
She questioned Mr Farage's commitment to the area.
Ms Dennis said: "We are a deprived seaside town.
"I work with a lot of local kids who’ve seen chaos in their lives caused by poverty.
"Where’s the presence of Farage to help tackle this?
"It’s ridiculous. There I am, voting for a bin. Clacton and Jaywick deserve better."
Punters at Mr Farage’s local, the Three Jays Pub in Marlowe Road, Jaywick, have come out in defence of their MP.
Customer Lenny Cousins, 75, of Coan Avenue, Clacton, said: “People ask ‘what has Nigel done for Clacton?’
“Well, every time you watch Prime Minister’s Questions, he puts Clacton on the map. Everyone’s talking about Clacton.
“How can you say he’s not doing anything?”
Mr Cousins, 75, of of Coan Avenue, Clacton, said: “Everyone’s talking about Clacton. How can you say he’s not doing anything?”
Fellow regular Tom Cunningham, 84, of Alton Road, Clacton, described Mr Farage as “a fantastic man”.
He said: “He puts the people of Clacton first.
“Everyone’s saying he’s never here, but he can’t be everywhere.
“The press tells a load of lies about him, but the majority of the public like him.”
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