A NEW coalition group has been formed in Blackpool to oppose the creation of more casinos in the resort.

BCAGE (Blackpool Coalition Against Gambling Expansion) will be officially launched on January 17 at The Firgrove Hotel on Dixon Road, Blackpool.

The group boasts members from a broad spectrum of society and includes people from all types of political backgrounds, trade unionists, religious establishments and hoteliers.

A spokesperson for the group explained what the new organisation is hoping to achieve: "We are not against existing gambling establishments in the resort. We just want a local referendum before the law is changed to allow resort casinos.

"We have also carried out our own research which indicates that the majority of people in the resort have serious concerns about the issue." The news came as the former mayor of Atlantic City, James Whelan, paid a visit to the resort today (January 10) to try and drum up support for the scheme.

Blackpool Challenge Partnership, which organised the trip, is hoping to "explode or confirm some of the myths surrounding resort casinos."

Partnership manager Alan Cavill said: "This is a man who has first-hand experience of resort casinos and will be able to speak from the heart about the effect they have had on the local community."

Mr Whelan will spend a night in the resort and meet board members of the BCP and local strategic partnerships as well as the retail forum and other community leaders.

Representatives from pro and anti casino groups will also be invited to talk with him.

Any one interested in joining BCAGE can log on to the website at www.bcage.org.