Everyone aboard at Great Yarmouth’s Big Day Out

The seaside town that was once described by Charles Dickens' character Peggotty in David Copperfield as the 'finest place in the universe' is hoping to promote its image.

The EDP joined a special bus ride packed with Norfolk residents to find out what people really think of one the highlights of the east coast.

Great Yarmouth's Big day out was made possible by BBC Radio Norfolk who asked listers, some of whom had not visited Yarmouth in years, why should be chosen for the bus trip.

Andrew Turner, a Great Yarmouth reporter for the radio station, said: 'We said if you come with an open mind, we'll give you an open ticket.'

And so yesterday a First Bus carrying 45 people from Swaffham, Dereham, Norwich, Acle and Kings Lynn took to the streets, stopping at Britannia Pier before making it's way to the famous Hippodrome Circus.

One visitor on the bus explained his not- so fond memory of stepping in dog's mess when he came to the town on New Years day in 1992.

He was looking for a cleaner Yarmouth and, even in the early stages of the tour, he said: 'I think it has cleaned up a little bit.'

Trevor Wainwright, who has been leader of the Great Yarmouth council since 2012, said: 'My message would be to come and see the changes in the cultural sector, do not take people's word.

'There is a lot of negativity about the area and the only way to change that is to show how great Great Yarmouth is, we've got a vibrant tourist industry and a very good industrial base.'

Jayne Reynolds, 57, the owner of The Merivon Guest House on Trafalgar Road, said: 'We need to advertise that the town is a family resort that looks after families, I get a lot of repeat business and some of our guests have been coming back for over 20 years.

'Some people have never been to Great Yarmouth and they should come and look for themselves.'

Companies, including First Group Bus who have improved their summer service, are working to promote the area.

Anne Edwards, community editor EDP, editor, Great Yarmouth Mercury

Why Yarmouth is a fabulous place...

Yes, when it's raining Great Yarmouth is grey. But when it is in the middle of a glorious summer like now, it is the bright and breezy town I call my home.

It is a place with a split personality; with beautiful heritage and links to a prominent past, to modern buildings and houses dotted in here and there to fill in the gaps.

Detractors complain about the state of the streets, the litter and, in some cases, the seediness, but show me any town or city that doesn't have areas like this.

Our office is on King Street and in the mornings with the windows open we catch the smell of coffee and bacon. In the evenings it changes to a more exotic cuisine, barbecue, hot roast chicken and garlic.

For Great Yarmouth has become (without really realising) a Cosmopolitan town, where different nationalities are, in the main, jogging along together quite nicely.

I once described living in Yarmouth as like being on holiday 52 weeks of the year – and it was a shame I worked for 47 of those weeks. I still take great delight in walking down to see the beach. I look for seals swimming close to shore and will chat to the sea anglers who set up their pitches, umbrellas and lines as dusk begins to fall.

For hundreds of years Yarmouth has been a sea port. From its shores ships came and went with cargoes bound worldwide, dropping off passengers and crew to enjoy themselves in the town.

This is what I like about Yarmouth, look right and left and there is heritage. No-one need ever get bored as there is so much to do, even out of season.

The resort has got beautiful beaches, whether it's sunshine or snow. It has a working inner port where you can watch supply vessels being loaded and leaving their berths.

It has a changing landscape and changing fortunes and with offshore energy plans bringing more and more specialist companies into the town, it bodes well for the future.

It's my home, my town, and I am proud to live here.