WANSTEAD-based EastEnders star Jessie Wallace has been branded a celebrity Chav by a new website.

Chav is one of the popular names for people who wear tracksuits, trainers, baseball caps and gaudy gold jewelry and who can be spotted in town centres on estates across the UK.

www.chavscum.co.uk says about the actress: "When creating the 'Slater' family in Eastenders, the BBC auditioned actresses then based the characters on the actresses they selected.

"Which can only mean that Jessie Wallace is just like her on-screen alter ego Kat Slater.

"We could have put a number of the EastEnders cast here, but we think Jessie Wallace outshines the rest as the chaviest Chavster."

www.chavscum.co.uk describes itself as a 'humorous guide to Britain's burgeoning peasant underclass'.

Other celebrity Chavs with east London and Essex connections are former East 17 singer Brian Harvey from Walthamstow, Highams Park band Blazin' Squad, Chingford football superstar David Beckham and ex-EastEnder Daniella Westbrook from Loughton.

The site says:"Have you heard the phrase, 'you'll never go broke appealing to the lowest common denominator'?

"This is why a lot of celebrities try and appeal to the Chav population and in that they naturally act like rich Chavs would.

"There are a core of entertainers who were Chavs before they became famous and have stayed dirty filthy Chavs."

Alternative names for Chavs include Neds, Townies, Kevs, Charvers, Steeks, Spides, Bazzas, Yarcos, Ratboys, Kappa Slappers, Skangers, Janners, Stigs and Scallies.