BLACKPOOL'S axed Magic of Coronation Street attraction could be the venue for a new Pleasure Beach thrill ride.

Resort planning chairman George Bancroft said he understood Pleasure Beach boss Geoffrey Thompson may be interested in developing a new "dark" ride at the South Promenade venue, which Granada Entertainments has decided not to re-open after the winter break.

"Blackpool Council would be happy to talk to the Pleasure Beach about any ideas they may have for the site, provided the rent is right," said Coun Bancroft.

"It's ideally situated opposite the Pleasure Beach and could be useful to them as well as us."

Granada still has a year to run on the lease of the building, next to the Sandcastle fun pool. It originally opened the £3m attraction as the World of Coronation Street in 1995, relaunching it with a £250,000 facelift and new name in 1997.

Now, it says it has still not proved financially viable to operate a replica of the cobbled street when the actual set was open to the public just an hour away at Granada Studios, Manchester.

The whole complex is owned by Blackpool Council but leased to the Blackpool Operating Company, a subsidiary of Sunley Turriff, which built it. Council leader Ivan Taylor and chief executive Graham Essex-Crosby are on the management board of the operating company.

No-one was available at the Pleasure Beach to comment.

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