COPING with life in a rudely-named area is a fact of life for many Dorset residents as those who live in Piddletrenthide, Scratchy Bottom and Shitterton can cheerfully attest.

Perhaps that’s why the advice from a proud resident of the hamlet that regularly tops Britain’s list of most embarrassingly-named places to the residents of Bell End in the Midlands, is that you should try and enjoy it.

Bell End hit the news earlier this week when it was revealed that its residents were so fed up with the sniggers, people driving for miles to be photographed by their road sign and, they allege, the effect on their children and house prices – they claim their properties are devalued by £60,000 - that they are campaigning for a name-change.

Their campaign went live on the Change.org website stating: "The term Bell End can be seen and used as a rude and/or an offensive word. As well as this, it can affect people and children including children being bullied and teased at school and generally now become a laughing stock as seen very recently on Facebook and other social media sites and it’s time for a change.”

Chairman of Bere Regis council, Ian Ventham, who has proudly lived in the parish’s hamlet of Shitterton since the early 1990s, said he had posted a news story about Bell End on his Facebook page: “Because it mentioned Shitterton.”

He says there is ‘nothing to cope with’ in his hamlet’s celebrated name because: “We just happen to live in Shittterton; it’s lovely here and we enjoy the name.” He doesn’t believe it traumatises the children who live there, either. “I think it gains them a lot of kudos as they are the ones who can provoke the sniggers at school,” he said.

Unlike Bell End, Shitterton has gamefully resisted all attempts to change its name to Sitterton – it was rumoured that local worthies thought it may offend Queen Victoria during a visit to the county but, says Ian Ventham, other Dorset places succumbed.

“In the 19th century folks were a little more sensitive to these things and Piddles were being turned into Puddles although Piddlehinton was one of the few places that resisted,” he said.

He believes that villagers – who clubbed together to pay for a splendid stone sign for the village - enjoy Shitterton’s gentle notoriety. “We’ve even got a house named Pooh Corner now,” he said.

*And, because we know you love it, here are a few other wonderfully-named Dorset places…

Happy Bottom, a hamlet near Corfe Mullen, Dorset

Scratchy Bottom, Lulworth, Dorset. It featured in the 1967 film of Far From the Madding Crowd.

Shaggs, East Lulworth, Dorset – rumoured to be where Prince Harry once rented a secret love nest with girlfriend Chelsy Davy.

River Piddle,– also Piddlehinton, Piddletrenthide for those who love a piddle.

Droop, a hamlet near Blandford Forum, Dorset.

Dungy Head, near West Lulworth, Dorset.

Tincleton, near Dorchester, Dorset.

Shatters Hill, the road that lies off Wareham’s North Street.

Crumpet’s Drive, Lytchett Matravers, Poole

Pistle Down near Verwood.

Belchawell near Sturminster Newton.

Goathorn Close, Poole

Knacker’s Hole (Sturminster Newton)

Clapgate, near Wimborne