The leader of Blackpool Council has urged a Conservative minister who called the town "godawful" to "come and have a look round" herself.
Lynn Williams, a Labour councillor, said Heather Wheeler's words at an event in London were frustrating but added: "We're used to getting (these) sort of ignorant and ill-advised comments."
Ms Wheeler later apologised for the remarks, which were also aimed at Birmingham, and said they did not reflect her "actual view".
