People living in a road labelled the saddest street in Britain have sprung to its defence.

Elm Road in Portslade earned the title Misery Street from the mass of debt problems suffered by those living there.

Deli Davidson, Lynn Foster and Carmen Douglas-Howse, who live in adjoining terraced houses, brought national attention to the street by launching a campaign.

The trio called for a body to be set up to regulate debt collection agencies.

They said the street was on of the front line against the debt collectors because many families had financial problems.

They strongly criticised the harassment tactics of some agencies in recovering the dues.

The revelation that many in the street are sinking under a tide of financial woes makes the place sound like it is on the verge of rack and ruin.

It conjures up an image of a poverty-stricken ghetto where people fear every knock at the door in case it is the bailiffs.

However, many people in the street say this image is unfair and insist Elm Road is a great place to live.

Helen Kilshaw, who has lived in the street for ten years, said: "It isn't the saddest street in Britain. I find that really funny.

"There are no more problems here than in any other road so I don't see what all the fuss is about."

Neighbour Sharon Radley said: "I can think of a few streets round here which are a lot more depressing to live in.

"It gets a bit noisy sometimes with people coming out of the pub and going to the chip shop but that's about it."

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said: "I am 70 and I have lived here since my son was born 48 years ago.

"It is a fantastic place to live and I get on with all my neighbours. I wouldn't have stayed here if it was that bad.

"I saw the story in the papers and have heard about it on the radio and if you ask me it is all a load of rubbish.

"We all owe money and I am up to my eyes in debt even at my age. It doesn't make it a miserable place to live, though."

Ms Davidson and her two fellow campaigners are organising a fightback against the debt collectors.

Ms Davidson has a £53,000 mortgage and owes another £10,000 for a graduate loan and other consumer loans.

She has a first class degree in history and worked as a legal executive until her second child was born.

Her financial problems came to a head when her marriage broke down.

Ms Douglas-Howse was a £24,000-a-year manager of homes for people with disabilities. She was forced to give up work two years ago to care for her husband, who is disabled.

The couple and their three-year-old son now live on benefits and are struggling with a £64,000 mortgage and a further £20,000 in unsecured loans.

Ms Foster, a nurse, took on a new credit card and a £200 loan quickly turned into a £522 debt as a result of interest and penalties.

Ms Davidson said: "The debts are passed on to collection agencies who harass you for money and treat you like dirt.

"We are intelligent, articulate women, who have every intention of paying off our debts. We are not criminals.

"They want you to account for every penny and say you are unreasonable if you buy a new bra or have your hair cut.

"At the moment there is no national body to regulate debt collection agencies and that is what is needed.

"They are a law to themselves and they get away with harassing ordinary people who have fallen on hard times."

Ms Douglas-Howse said all three neighbours were afraid to answer the phone in case it was a collection agency.

They had made arrangements to pay a certain amount of their debts each month.

She said: "The problem is every so often the debt gets sold to another agency and the abusive phone calls start again.

"I can't let my husband answer the phone because of his illness and because the calls cause him so much stress.

"I have explained this to the agencies and asked them not to phone but to write instead but they just ignore us and the calls keep coming."

Ms Foster can earn more working night shifts and asked the agencies not to phone her during the day when she was asleep.

She also made arrangements with firms to manage her debt but every time it was sold on the new firm denied knowing about the previous agreement.

The trio turned to the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) who were able to offer advice on how to cope.

Malcolm Hurlston, CCCS chairman, said: "We unreservedly condemn collection agencies and the creditors behind them who harass people who have shown they are ready to repay what they can."

Portslade South councillor Sue John said: "Elm Road is not one of the worst streets in the area.

"The sad fact is, though, there are many streets in the area where people are living with debt problems.

"A money advice service has been set up in Portslade so that people can get help with their financial problems.

"There are also high levels of depression in the area and it has the highest number of suicides among young men anywhere in the country."