The Beatles had their love affair with Liverpool. Oasis were mad for Manchester. Now pop phenomenom The Ordinary Boys are finally putting Worthing on the musical map.

Or at least...they were.

The latest darlings of the scene grew up and went to school in the town better known as God's Waiting Room than as a melting pot for the devil's music.

But far from patriotically singing their hometown's praises as they surf the latest Britpop wave, the South coast sensations appear to be erasing all trace of it from their CV.

In a full-page article in teen music bible the NME, members of the chart-topping band ditch the opportunity for moody shots around Teville Gate and, instead, pose in front Brighton's best-known landmarks, including the Palace Pier and Great Eastern pub.

Today, singer Preston insisted the band were not turning their backs on their past - but townsfolk in Worthing were angry their latest favourite sons appear to have snubbed them.

In an article accompanying shots of the Boys in Brighton, to promote the group's new single Seaside, NME's Leonie Cooper wrote: "The Ordinary Boys are treating NME to a tour of the town they call home."

The slur follows an interview screened on Later with Jools Holland in which Preston said: "We don't really have a home town do we? I suppose the nearest town would be Brighton.

"And Portsmouth. Everywhere we go, we make that our home."

Worthing was branded the worst place to grow up in a national survey earlier this year. It said the town's ratio of 15 undertakers to five nightclubs made it the "place most likely to induce boredom".

Local movers and shakers were angry the Boys had missed the opportunity to put some pizazz into the resort's reputation.

A spokesman for 107.7 Splash FM said: "It's disappointing they are disassociating themselves from the town where they cut their musical teeth and are turning their backs on fans locally who have supported them since they started."

Local legend Leo Sayer was also bemused.

Leo, who went to school in Goring, said: "I'm a good example of someone who's had success with his hometown connections.

"In my early career I was writing about myself in Shoreham-by-Sea, Worthing and Brighton, and I happily plundered that background for lyric ideas and atmosphere.

"How that can work for The Ordinary Boys will mostly be determined by how closely their music reflects or is reflected by the place they come from.

"If that's not important, like many they'll move on and forget you. But, in many cases such as Bruce Springsteen with New Jersey, The Beatles with Liverpool, The Kinks with London, the links are essential."

Preston today said he, guitarist William, bassist James Gregory and drummer Charles Stanley were 'Worthing boys', born and bred.

He told The Argus: "James and Charlie are still in Worthing, my mum's in Worthing.

"We did that piece in NME because we were asked where we like going in Brighton.

"William and me just moved there but I would hate to be thought of as a Brighton band or really as part of any scene, especially Brighton because it's school playground rubbish. We are such Worthing boys.

"NME asked us to do the story, we would have been silly not to. It's sad it makes us look rubbish for doing that.

"Growing up in Worthing made me who I am. I would not want to be part of a Brighton scene but everyone in Worthing accepts the fact you go to Brighton for your big night out. It is part of what makes Worthing what it is.

"But my main point is we could not have written the album if we were from Brighton."