BLACKPOOL'S head of tourism has slammed the British Tourist Authority for not promoting the resort in a guide for young people coming here from overseas.

Not a single attraction from the country's capital of fun was listed in this year's BTA annual guide to UK youth culture, which highlights the best spots for exploring, shopping, clubbing, eating and drinking for 18 to 25-year-olds.

Top tourist hot-spots such as the Illuminations, the Pleasure Beach and the Tower are left out and renowned nightclubs such as The Palace are nowhere to be seen.

Blackpool is also noticeably absent from the special report on seaside towns, while smaller resorts such as Margate manage to feature. In fact the only mention the Fylde Coast gets is Fleetwood Market.

Jane Seddon, head of tourism at Blackpool Council, said Blackpool's omission from the guide was an unpleasant surprise.

"For Blackpool to get no mention at all, regardless of previous coverage, is extremely disappointing," she said.

"As good as Fleetwood Market is, it is one single attraction and if the guide mentions one attraction in the region, then it should feature the others. It is also disappointing to see the BTA concentrating mainly on areas south of Watford - the North does exist! I feel there should be more of a nationwide feel to the brochure."

Defending the omission, a spokesperson from the BTA said: "Blackpool featured quite heavily in Issue Two of the publication, which is produced like a magazine and is now on Issue Four.

"We are keen to give all areas of the country the chance to benefit from the publicity which the guide affords. We are running several other campaigns in which Blackpool features."

But this does little to appease tourism chiefs who are angry that the guide mainly focuses on areas in the South of England.

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