In the recent hot weather Morecambe's golden beaches have attracted large numbers of people and the Telegraph article made clear that this was no accident.

The article opened: "Amanda sits up from her beach towel and admires the view. In front of her the sun is shimmering on the sea while her children make sandcastles on the shoreline. Isn't this wonderful she murmurs to her husband.

"St Tropez? The Maldives? Morecambe, actually."

The article focussed on the fact that resorts such as Morecambe are regaining their appeal and that the British now take more than 25 million trips to the seaside every year.

"People are returning to the British seaside and, to their surprise, discovering that it is really rather good," said Allan Brodie, a senior investigator for English Heritage and author of England's Seaside Resorts.

The article highlighted the glorious revival of Morecambe's art deco Midland Hotel as an example of how seaside resorts are getting more "savvy" about what people want.

Telegraph journalist Anna van Praagh said seaside holidays in declining resorts used to be something to be endured, but ironically it was parents' nostalgic desire to recreate the holidays they enjoyed when they were young that was drawing them back.

Radio 5 Live also participated in the debate, pointing out that air transport was becoming increasingly expensive and, as a result, people were looking again at taking holidays in the UK.

The article concluded: "Perhaps this rekindling of affection for our coastal towns was only ever a matter of time. After all, the British do so love to be beside the seaside."