WINSFORD has been hailed as a wonderful town in which to live and work and is somewhere to be proud of.

Vale Royal Borough Council has defended Winsford after the Guardian revealed heavy criticism of the town on the knowhere.com website.

The council insists that the website gives a blinkered view of Winsford and ignores the many positive changes in the town in recent years.

A spokesperson for the council said: "The town has attracted the fire headquarters, the new police headquarters, which will relocate from Chester, and new companies such as Flexifilm, Fords of Winsford, Ambassador, Snoozee Dog, Fiat and Jiffy.

"It will also soon see the redevelopment of the shopping centre.

"All these initiatives have increased investment in the town and led to the creation of new jobs which in turn has led to new housing developments attracting new people to the town from throughout the region."

The town's leisure facilities, according to the council, have improved greatly, including the expansion of Knights Grange Golf Course, the continued development of the leisure centre and marina and the expansion of youth activities such as New Images, Winsford United Junior Disco and the cybercafe.

The council also points to the River Weaver as a major asset, offering many water-based activities such as angling, fishing and canoeing, and the surrounding countryside is said to be ideal for walking, cycling and exploring.

The spokesperson added: "Winsford is a rural town that offers its residents a host of outdoor leisure activities that people from all over the region travel to enjoy.

"Vale Royal Borough Council is proud of Winsford and the work it does in the town, independently and in partnership with other organisations."