IT used to be the home of steelmaking, but now one website claims Ebbw Vale would make kings of chav Goldie Lookin' Chain feel at home.

The town is being dubbed the "chav centre of the universe" on Internet website Chav Towns.

But many local people say the claims on www.chavtowns.co.uk are just snobbery.

Blaenau Gwent council leader John Hopkins says: "I don't agree with that perception at all. Ebbw Vale is no different from any other Valley town.

"It's the focus for a lot of regeneration, we have great schools and opportunities for young people.

"People need to come here and see for themselves. I think they will be pleasantly surprised."

Among the reports of "chavness" in Ebbw Vale highlighted by the website are boy racers doing circuits of the town centre clad in shellsuits and plenty of "bling".

One report said: "There are the mindless hordes of chavs outside Kwiksave, mindless hordes outside our local leisure centre, mindless hordes in KFC, mindless hordes in Festival Park. In fact you could say they're everywhere."

Another said: "Friday is also market day in Ebbw Vale town centre. This is where the chavettes go to get bargain Von Dutch, Moschino, Burberry or Playboy."

Some people we talked to in Ebbw Vale were angered by the description. Jamie Williams, aged 17, from the Hilltop area of Ebbw Vale, said: "I don't think it is very chavvy. Ebbw Vale is too posh for that."

Carl Watkins, 18, of Badminton Grove, Ebbw Vale, said: "It is sad that the town has got this image - it is not a nice one to have."

Raina Fisher, who works in Ebbw Vale, said: "Ebbw Vale is no worse than anywhere else - this is giving it a very bad image.

"They probably picked on us because we are a Valleys town. It's not fair. There is a lot being spent on the town and a lot of people are coming to live here."

Ross Jones, 18, of Holland Street, Ebbw Vale, said: "There are people like that here but I don't take it seriously - it's just a bit of fun."

But Gemma Davies, 17, from Cwm, said: "I think that is a pretty fair description, Ebbw Vale is full of it!"

And Claire Rogers, 21, from Hilltop, Ebbw Vale said: "That doesn't surprise me, really. You do see a lot of people like that around."

Gerry McGill, 48, of Whitworth Terrace in Tredegar, added: "That's not a term I was acquainted with until now. But you do find an element of it in Ebbw Vale and Tredegar - and in other towns as well."

* Chav is originally from the Romany word 'chavi', meaning friend. It is now associated with young people who dress in Burberry items, track- suits and chunky gold jewellery.

Famous people labelled chavs include:

* Wayne Rooney

* Coleen McLaughlin

* Little Britain's Vicki Pollard