Manchester-based charity Church Action on Poverty has expressed delight at reports that the Government is shortly to confirm it is scrapping its Manchester super-casino plan. The group said it would be “a victory for common sense which will be welcomed by many people within the city”.

In advance of today's (Wednesday’s) votes in Parliament on the geographical distribution of casino premises licences, campaigners including churches and other faith communities have been reiterating their opposition to the proposals to place a super-casino in Manchester.

The Church of England has set up a new group to help Blackpool’s regeneration, following the failure of the resort to obtain Britain’s first ‘super-casino’.

The Christian Socialist Movement (CSM) has joined Methodists, the Anglican Bishop of Hume, the Archbishop of Canterbury and numerous other church and civic leaders in expressing disappointment at the granting of a licence for a regional super-casino in Manchester.

In a statement that will prove extremely controversial, a senior Church of England Bishop has said that Blackpool should have been chosen to host Britain's first Las Vegas-style super-casino.

Churches and community groups have been encouraged to 'keep on speaking out' about possible new casinos in their localities - because of the harm promoting gambling does among vulnerable groups.