AS developers have unveiled plans to turn Blackpool into a kind of North-west Las Vegas with multi-million pound casinos and hotels, Frank Wood takes a look at how the resort is today, and what local people see as its future RUN-DOWN Blackpool desperately needs to do something drastic if it is ever to win back its place as a top holiday resort, Bolton folk believe.

And though some see moves by developers to earn a Golden Pile by turning it into the Las Vegas of the North as pie in the sky, others say it could help to stop the rot.

Opinions were mixed when the BEN did a snap survey in the town centre.

But even those who were opposed to gambling were agreed that Blackpool needs to urgently brush up its "resort of yesteryear" image.

Many people the BEN spoke to, however, thought that even with the best will in the world, package holiday Brits will not be drawn back to Blackpool in their masses because of one vital missing factor . . . SUNSHINE.

Just weeks after tourism bosses were crowing that the Lancashire resorts were pulling back the trippers with traditional attractions like fish and chips, moves were revealed to revive Blackpool's flagging fortunes with a different kind of chips.

If Leisure Parcs, which owns Blackpool Tower and three of the resort's piers get their way, Blackpool could become a gambling mecca to rival Las Vegas and Atlantic City in the USA.

It's the resort that became famous for its electricity pylon tower, its donkeys, kiss-me-quick image, raunchy postcards and Lancashire millworkers paddling in the murky sea with a knotted hankie on their head.

But the days when Reginald Dixon at the Tower Ballroom organ could pull in the crowds have long since gone as North-west families jet off to the guaranteed sunshine of the Med.

Now developers have come up with a £1 billion vision of attracting folk who like a flutter from all over the world.

As a first move, Leisure Parcs has teamed up with casino operators to try to get a change in Britain's laws, which forbid punters from gambling unless they have been a member of a casino for at least 24 hours.

Already there is optimism that change will come -- and plans have been drawn up for a Pharaoh's Palace, casinos, a 500 room hotel, leisure facilities and a major conference centre.

And that last development could even help to tempt back Labour for their annual conference after they gave the resort the boot.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Do you believe that this latest plan is a good one for Blackpool, or do you have better ideas to improve the North's favourite resort? Send you e-mails to: BLACKPOOL VIEWS, Angela Kelly, Features Department, Bolton Evening News on: akelly@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk