Radio presenter Stuart Maconie has defended his unflattering remarks about Accrington. But the BBC 6 music star told the Observer that he loves the town and its sense of history.

He visited Accrington to carry out research for his book Hope and Glory which retraces the history of the Accrington Pals.

But he angered some Accringtonians by painting an unflattering portayal of the town and referring to ‘chain smoking women’ and ‘teenage girls with prams’.

He also dubbed one street ‘a crowded, unlovely hotch-potch of cheap shops, minicab offices and fast-food outlets’.

But when contacted by the Observer, the Wigan-born star said he was a big fan of the town – and loved the way it remembers the Pals.

He said: "There is a strong sense of history among some of the residents and the Pals are why I visited in the first place."

However he makes no apology for painting a harrowing picture of Accrington.

Stuart said: "If people think a pound shop is a beautiful piece of civic architecture, I would certainly disagree.

"It is not my responsibility to paint Accrington in a positive light - that is up to tourist brochures and visitor centres."

To find out what the residents of the town thought of his comments, the Observer took to the street to find out your views.

Cornelius Kenyon, 85, of Accrington said: "I think he’s altogether wrong. You only have to look around the place to see it’s not so bad.

"If you go somewhere else, Blackburn for example, you’ll see more litter and papers everywhere and many other towns look more run-down."

Doris Rawnsley, 65, of Baxenden said: "I like Accrington although I admit it is a little run-down especially when you see the empty shops.

"But I think it's not that bad, it just needs some money spending on it."

Her husband Colin, 65, said: "I am a little disillusioned with the place and I was born here.

"Show me one entrance into Accrington that doesn't look a little sad and a bit run-down.

"It’s a shame, as it could be a great place if they spent some money on it and got some good shops in."

Out of town visitors had similar views.

Sheila Hopwood, 65, of Haslingden, said: "I don’t think he’s very fair in what he says.

"He mentions about people chain-smoking, well smoking in public is just something that ordinary people do - we are not money people, we are just ordinary."

The mood was summed-up by Robin Brooker, 67, of Accrington, who said: "Accrington town centre itself is a bit run-down, but the town has many things which are worth seeing.

"What about going for walks up on the Coppice? There’s some great scenery in the area and beautiful countryside if you just look for it."

Traders, too, had plenty of thoughts on the matter.

Ian Smith, of M and I K Smith butchers on Accrington Market said: "My granddad was in the First World War, although he didn't fight in a Pals battalion. I think if you did get someone from that time and show them the modern world they would be quite surprised by what they saw."

George Cropper, 68, who runs G and D Cropper Family Butchers on Accrington Market said: "I don’t think this does the town any good."

Finally, Arthur Wilkinson, 87, of Clayton-le-Moors said: "I can’t think that his book will stop people from visiting the town.

"If people want to come, then they will do. There is nothing in Accrington keep them away."