PEOPLE in Scarborough have the lowest average salary in the UK, according to a new study of coastal communities.

The Social Market Foundation has published new analysis of government data which shows the struggles faced by seaside towns.

The average salary in Scarborough is £19,925, the lowest in the country and significantly down on the wider British average of £28,442.

Five of the 10 local authority areas with the lowest average salaries are coastal communities, the SMF's research shows. Seaside towns also come off badly when it comes to unemployment, economic growth, and health.

The report’s author, SMF chief economist Scott Corfe said:

“The economies of many coastal towns have performed poorly relative to the rest of the country, with a lack of well-paid job opportunities for people in these areas."

Many coastal communities are poorly connected to other employment centres, he added, and their needs are often ignored by policy-makers.