Denise Webb, a 61-year-old who works as a support worker in the area, accused Farage of being “biased”, “negative” and “not a very nice man”.
She added: “His idea of getting [illegal immigrants] out is not going to work because who’s going to fill all of those places?
“I hope that people will actually look at what they’re voting for this time.”
Callers to BBC Essex have also been having their say.
Mark, from Jaywick, said: “All we hear all the time is promises, promises, promises. They get elected, they get placed in Parliament… And nothing ever happens.
“We watched this space, we live in this space and he hasn’t done nothing.”
Clacton-on-Sea resident Ted added: “I quite like the bloke, but if he’s going to do what he’s done now [again], you think what’s the point of voting him in again?”
He questioned if it was a popularity contest for Farage, adding: “It’s just a very, very strange decision.”
A spokesman for Tendring District Council confirmed that Farage had offered to cover the cost of the by-election.
But they added: “General election (and parliamentary by-election) costs are covered by central government, so it is a matter for them.”
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