'OH for the glory, glory days of Morecambe when all the top acts were here, the streets were packed and all was well with the world,' - so goes the seemingly neverending lament.

Well all that is a load of nonsense. At least it is according to one of Britain's biggest comics Bernard Manning who reckons Morecambe's just as good as it ever was. What's more the laughs he elicits here rival those he hears anywhere in the country.

"I think Morecambe's just as good as any other place for a holiday," said Bernard who plays The Empire tonight (Thursday). "Morecambe's a typical seaside place. There's people like me who can't stand the heat and Morecambe's just right, nice and quiet.

"I've played the lot here and once I played the Midland Hotel. I've played Morecambe that many times down the years I can't remember them all. But I do know I always have 'em rolling down the aisles there, always."

Manning fans can expect the usual fare from the no-holds barred comic who defends some of the accusations levelled at him over the years.

"It's a load of nonsense when they say I'm a racist for example.

"All I'll say is to people is come to my show and make your own mind up."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.