Blackpool ‘is a war zone’ says Coleen

In a column for a national newspaper, the singer and Loose Women presenter claims that nights out in Blackpool leave her “speechless”.

She wrote: “Young men and women, stags and hens, stagger from happy hour to happy hour, slugging back fishbowls of cocktails until they are slumped half-naked on the street, legs akimbo, in pools of vomit.”

She adds that the binge drinking culture is the reason that she no longer lives in the resort and says that before they moved, she and her husband’s cars were regularly smashed up.

She wrote: “The Blackpool I grew up in, where many members of my family still live, I treasure fond ­memories of.

“But, very sadly, I have to admit, it’s not the Blackpool I knew and loved any more. In 2007, I felt I had no choice but to pack my bags and get my family out of my once lovely home town.

“As much as I adored my childhood, I did not want my kids growing up there.”

Coun Tony Williams, leader of the Tory group on Blackpool Council, was furious.

He said: “I’m astonished. Coleen still has family living and working in Blackpool and I can’t believe she has said what she has.

“She is biting the hand that feeds her – Blackpool made the Nolans and made her career.

“It was the support of this town this town that gave them their break.”

Gazette readers were also quick to express their support for the resort.

Ann Warren said: “All towns have their faults, Blackpool is no exception, but it doesn’t need a so-called celebrity to point out its failings.

“You would think being born and bred Blackpool she would be proud of her town, because it has some very good points as well as its bad points and if it wasn’t for Blackpool she wouldn’t be where she is today.”

Coleen is the second celebrity to have a pop at Blackpool in recent days, after Jeremy Clarkson claimed the town is full of “drunks, drug addicts and Syrian refugees”.

His comments met with a robust response from Blackpool’s Mayor Peter Callow, who suggested he take a long drive off a short pier.

Coun Callow said: “He’s already had the sack for thumping someone and he’s lucky to have any sort of job.

“He should get in one of his cars and go for a long drive off one of our short piers.”