A leading councillor has hit back at a survey that placed Ashford near the bottom of a list judging the country’s best towns for shopping.

The Vitality Index, launched by retail specialist Harper Dennis Hobbs (HDH), ranks the top 500 British shopping centres by scoring the quality, rather than merely the size.

The index, which lists the centres from best to worst, has been designed to let investors know which are getting it right and which need to improve.

Ashford came in at 463.

Other Kent towns on the list include Folkestone at 490 and Dover at 496.

The top three spots went to Westfield London, Chelsea and Knightsbridge.

Dudley in the West Midlands was placed at number 500.

Bluewater, in Greenhithe, came in high at number eight.

Cllr Neil Shorter, Ashford Borough Council’s portfolio holder for town centre focus, said: “Clearly when comparing our town centre against major shopping centres such as Westfield and Bluewater we will come off second best in terms of the retail offer, but we believe Ashford punches above its weight for a medium-sized town centre.

“We have our own department store in Debenhams as well as many other well-known high street brands such as Marks & Spencer, H&M, River Island, Next and Wilko alongside a varied mixture of independent stores.”

He added: “The report has not taken into account the great many new initiatives being introduced to breathe new life into Ashford’s high street such as the new farmers’ market, PopUp Ashford, T-CAT, Love Ashford website and free parking offer.

“We know we have a wonderful opportunity to bring a new look and feel to the high street but this takes time.

“We believe the work that is being put in now will have a positive long-term effect on our town centre.”