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”.

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’.

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.