A UK seaside town has a beach that has been slammed by visitors due to the “brown water” and “run-down” surroundings.

Viking Bay in Broadstairs, Kent, has previously been hailed as a great beach for people to visit.

But some visitors were less impressed when they travelled to the town, located near Thanet.

A TripAdvisor user said: “Horrid graffiti. Run down beach chalets with rusty metal doors. Squalid concrete buildings. Beach covered in weed. Brown sea water.

“Dunno if that’s what the sea is like around here or if there has been a massive sewage overflow, but my family did not go into the water for fear of meeting a turdshark.

“Like most of Broadstairs, a bit of a dump. Only visit if you want to go to an overpriced restaurant.”

Another user said Viking Bay “has to be the worst beach” in the UK with “mounds of seaweed” ruining the experience.

They added: “These days you have to have a nostalgic love of the area to return as for most people one visit would be enough.

“You see a lot of TV adverts and films using Viking Bay – perhaps some of the fees they pay for this could be reinvested directly into the beach area to bring it back to its former glory.”

A spokesperson for Thanet District Council previously told the Express: “Thanet has 19 miles of beautiful coastline and the council along with its partners works hard all year round to try and keep it in the best condition possible. Thanet has six Blue Flag beaches. Blue Flags are the gold standard for cleanliness, bathing water quality, beach facilities and safety. Viking Bay in Broadstairs has a Seaside Award.”

“These beaches are awarded good and excellent bathing water quality by the Environment Agency (EA).”

While some visitors were not impressed when they visited Broadstairs, the town has also recieved high praise in the past.

It has even been described as the “Jewel of Thanet.”

In total, Broadstairs has an impressive seven beaches for tourists to choose from.

Ice Cream shop Morelli’s has been serving delicious treats on the seafront since the 1930s, and there are also plenty of pubs and cafes to choose from.

One pub – The Charles Dickens – has two storeys and offers stunning views of the coast.

Speaking to The Sun, one Broadstairs local defended the town, saying it is “beautiful” with “lovely” beach walks.

They added: “It’s a bit of a cliche round here but it is true, it does feel like you’ve stepped back in time.”