RESIDENTS in Bridlington fear their town could be damaged if a new Benefits Street-style TV show is filmed there.

Bridlington Tourism Association is leading the call for residents to ignore an invite from Channel Five for people on benefits in the town to come forward to star in a new documentary.

The only details released are that the programme would focus on benefits and employment, sparking concerns that it may reflect badly on the East Yorkshire town.

Channel Five has not confirmed whether the programme would be similar to Channel Four’s Benefits Street but a lack of information has fuelled speculation that it would only focus on negative aspects of Bridlington.

Bob Hillary, president of the Bridlington Tourism Association, said: “It’s just bad news, not just for the town but also for the people on benefits. Most people on benefits are decent honest people and are in that situation through no fault of their own and this programme will undoubtedly just focus on the bad guys, it’s cheap TV.”