WIDNES has been ranked in the top 15 of the UK’s most depressing towns that ‘sap the will to live’.

It comes following an online poll over recent weeks by iLiveHere.co.uk in which website visitors could vote for towns they believe to be ‘bland, boring, soulless and uncultured’.

Widnes was shortlisted for the poll last month alongside neighbouring St Helens.

Now, the results have been published, with Widnes being ranked 14th most depressing town in the UK.

Its listing reads: “Widnes is an industrial town and its major industry is the manufacture of chemicals… and that’s all you need to know.”

Falmouth in Cornwall was ranked the worst, followed by Peterborough and Aberdeen.

The poll reads: “This year we have done something a little different. We wanted to highlight those towns that sap residents' will to live.

“Bland, boring, soulless, uncultured middle-England municipalities of mediocrity that imbue the inhabitants with an almost terminal case of ennui and you delivered.

“The top 20 most depressing towns in Britain, as voted for by you, is here and were the results a shock.

“They say it’s grim up north, but given the results of this poll, it’s dull down south, in particular, in Devon.

“The Cleckhuddersfax golden triangle of Yorkshire grim, doesn’t even get a look in.

“Anyway, you didn’t come here to read, you came here to bathe in schadenfreude, thinking of the estate agents in our roll call of beige, so let’s get started.”