A Kent town has topped a new list of the best "affordable" places to live by the sea in the UK.

Herne Bay is ranked at number one in a feature published by The Times today.

It comes just three weeks after the town was controversially named by Which? as the worst seaside spot in the county.

The Times has clearly taken a different view, describing Herne Bay as "pretty perfect" for families - and somewhere house prices are likely to rise.

The article highlights how the cost of buying on the coast has soared in recent years, making places like "bougie" Whitstable unaffordable to some.

KentOnline previously reported how the average house price in Whitstable has risen by 81% to £433,000 over the past decade.

There has been an even bigger jump in Herne Bay (88%), but buying a home is still much cheaper at £349,000 on average.

The Times describes Herne Bay as a Victorian seaside town "with all the retro essentials", such as its pier, arcades and beach huts.

It highlights how the pier has been "regenerated" with shacks selling stone-baked pizzas, street food and craft beers.

The Green Door Deli, which is on TripAdvisor’s 22 restaurants to visit in Kent in 2022, also gets a mention.

The newspaper suggests buying a home in Herne Bay is a smart investment, with one estate agent saying: “You’re likely to get an uplift in value here that you won’t get elsewhere.”

No other Kent towns were included on the list.

Last year, we reported how Herne Bay has emerged from the shadow of its upmarket neighbour Whitstable.

Residents told us they had moved from Whitstable to the Bay - which is also proving an attractive destination for Londoners.

Local councillor Joe Howes said: “It was ‘Hernia Bay’. It was seen as a place you wouldn’t go to because there was nothing to do. It was rundown.

“You’ll struggle to see a town grow so quickly. There are very few empty shops now, we have lots of developments taking place – there are so many things happening."

Last month's, ranking by Which? of Herne Bay as Kent's worst seaside town sparked uproar among locals.

Mehmet Dari, who owns the popular A La Turka restaurant on the seafront and The Grapevine in the High Street, said: "I don't believe this. They probably haven't discovered Herne Bay properly."