Report suggests towns like Blackpool have a viable future

But, despite their continuing popularity with holidaymakers, the resorts have also experienced high unemployment.

The report, from Sheffield Hallam University, found that over the last three decades, total employment in the towns grew by about 320,000, or more than 20 per cent, a higher growth rate than in the national economy.

However at the same time there has been an increase in unemployment, especially in those towns which have missed out on the more favourable economic trends elsewhere.

Imbalance

This imbalance in the labour markets has been mainly caused by large numbers of people moving to seaside towns, which has meant population growth outstripping job opportunities.

In most cases, unemployment levels have been well above surrounding areas, and researchers believe the problem is actually much larger than official figures indicate.

Guide to the UK's best beaches

The report, based on two years' research, focuses on a review of economic trends at the 43 largest seaside resorts in England, Scotland and Wales.

An improvement in the quality of beaches could be one factor in explaining the ongoing popularity of the seaside, with a record number of UK beaches recently being awarded Blue Flags for cleanliness.

But this has not been a big enough boost to counter the fact that 360,000 more adults of working age have moved into seaside towns over the past 30 years than have moved out.

Much of this influx has been driven by a preference for living in the towns, but the availability of private rented accommodation, for example in former boarding houses, also appears to be a factor.

Professor Steve Fothergill, who led the research team. said: "Seaside towns have been lucky.

Victims of success

"Despite the challenge to their core business, they have mostly escaped the spiral of job loss and out-migration that has so often plagued Britain's older industrial areas.

"Seaside towns do face continuing problems, but more often than not these are as a result of their considerable success in attracting new residents from other parts of the country."

Peter Hampson, director of the British Resorts Association, said: "This report confirms what we have been trying to tell the government for a long time , that Britain still has a large and viable seaside tourist industry.

"This is an industry to be nurtured and supported, not written off as a lost cause.

"With rising incomes, there should be enough room in the market place not only for foreign holidays but also for our own seaside towns."