WE MAY like to be beside the seaside. But the cold financial reality of living in Britain's coastal towns has been laid bare by new analysis which suggests that workers in these areas are likely to earn on average £1,600 less per year than those living inland.

Researchers have also discovered two-thirds of coastal areas had seen a real terms fall in wages since 2010.

Data collected by the Office for National Statistics for 632 parliamentary constituencies in Great Britain which takes into account full and part time workers shows that in coastal constituencies, the typical worker earned £22,104 before tax.

That was £1,681 less than the typical worker in a non-coastal area, who earned £23,785 before tax.

Taking inflation into account, annual wages fell in two-thirds of constituencies between 2010 and 2018 which is described as a "real terms" decrease.

The information backs up recent findings from the All Parliamentary Group for Coastal Communities which said earlier this year that seaside towns were "being left behind" and there was too much reliance on tourism to drive local economies.

But the government says its £200m Coastal Communities Fund is changing lives.

Ten Dorset projects have benefitted from the fund including Poole Quay, Wareham's Mill Lane Revival Project to refurbish the Grade II listed Citizens Advice Bureau and the pier repairs at Swanage.

And earnings data reveals in the last five years Bournemouth workers have experienced an increase in earnings with an increase in median earnings. The numbers of businesses locally are also increasing.

BCP Council said: "Bournemouth also has a well qualified working-age population and a smaller proportion than nationally of young people not in employment, education or training."