Luton can take advantage of a "fantastic opportunity"

However, Luton, named number one in a poll of 20,000 people, has been told not to fear the honour by a former winner.

The results are to be published next month in Crap Towns II - The Nation Decides.

But civic leaders from last year's winning city, Hull, have called the accolade a "fantastic opportunity".

Far from wilting under the shame of the title the Humberside city is said to have thrived.

Despite being described by one 2003 voter as a "sad story of unemployment, teenage pregnancy, heroin addiction, crime, violence, and rampant self-neglect", this year Hull dropped down to creditable 19th.

THE 10 WORST TOWNS 1-Luton 2-Windsor 3-Sunderland 4-Glasgow and Edinburgh 6-Clapham 7-Bath 8-Nottingham 9-Corby 10-Middlesbrough

John Till, chief executive of Hull Cityimage, said: "Hull didn't suffer at all by receiving the number one accolade last year.

If anything it was good news for the city as it made people look at the city, visit the city and realise that Hull is in fact a thriving, vibrant place undergoing a stunning renaissance.

"As long as Luton has lots of positive things happening that they can promote on the back of this, they have nothing to worry about."

Luton is probably best known for the Vauxhall car factory and its airport, which featured in a famous 1977 Campari advert starring Lorraine Chase.

But residents have hailed the Bedfordshire town's community spirit.

'Silly survey'

Crap Towns II is the sequel to last year's Crap Towns survey, which was edited by The Idler magazine's Sam Jordison and Dan Kieron.

David Franks, executive leader of Luton Borough Council and born and bred in the town, said: "This is hardly a scientific study."

Windsor residents are said to believe "they are royalty"

Cllr Franks said he was sure a town centre regeneration programme would result in Luton being knocked off the top spot next year.

Windsor was voted the second worst place to live this time around.

One voter said: "The big thing about Windsor is that its townsfolk believe that by living near the castle they are more or less royalty themselves."

But Cllr Mary Rose Gliksten, Leader of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, said: "Contrary to the impression given by this survey, Windsor is a busy, cosmopolitan little town with a tremendous sense of community.

"Its residents are down-to-earth, friendly folk who are bemused by this silly survey."

Sam Jordison, co-author of the book, said: "It is completely unscientific, a bit silly and ludicrous, and just for a laugh.

"Windsor needed to be put on, I've been there and I didn't have a very good time there at all.

"It does point out the real issues that should be paid attention to, Luton's horrendous architecture and traffic systems needs sorting out.

"And the way things come up again and again, the bland, brand make-over which has made all high streets the same, nothing is owned by local people, their heart has been torn out and replaced by some corporate monstrosity, we do take the real issues very seriously."

Sunderland - "not so much a town as a mortuary" - came in third followed by Edinburgh and Glasgow in joint fourth.