Swindon has been named as one of the most depressing towns in Britain.

The whimsical layout of the Magic Roundabout and the picturesque parks at Coate Water and Lydiard have failed to impress voters of a new ranked list.

After describing Swindon as the eighth-worst place to live in England last year, website ILiveHere put the boot in again earlier this week by placing it in the list of its top 20 most depressing towns in Britain following a reader poll.

A spokesperson for the website said: This year, we have done something a little different.

“We wanted to highlight those towns that sap the residents will to live.

“Bland, boring, soulless, uncultured middle-England municipalities of mediocrity, that imbue the inhabitants with an almost terminal case of ennui, and you delivered.

“The top 20 most depressing towns in Britain, as voted for by you, is here and were the results a shock.

“They say it’s grim up north, but given the results of this poll, it’s dull down south, in particular, in Devon.

Swindon placed in unlucky 13th, ranking as more depressing than Chatham, Basingstoke, Wells, Blackpool, Teignmouth, Torquay, and Widnes.

A photo of the section of Canal Walk between Wharf Green and The Crossing food court was used to represent us to the world.

It seems to be a slightly out of date image as the colourful hoardings that now cover the empty units, highlight the town’s virtues, and promote local attractions are not pictured.

Each entry came with a description of why it had been included in the list.

Swindon’s explanation was particularly brief: “Pig town has made it on to our beige list too. Well done my luvvers!”

On the positive side, the town was voted less depressing than Croydon, Luton, Crawley, Paignton, Portsmouth, Ellesmere Port, Yeovil, Tiverton, Alloa, Aberdeen, Petersborough, and – top of the list – Falmouth.

Previously, Swindon placed below Andover, Aldershot, Aylesbury, Slough, Portsmouth, Peterborough, and Luton, in the website’s list of the 50 worst places to live in England.

This was met with a mixed response from residents, some of whom agreed that the architecture was “horrible” and the buildings were an “eyesore” while others argued that the poll was “nonsense” because Swindon is “amazing”.